maxren17 Reviews

The Virtuoso (2021)

Dark and Suspenseful...

[8/10 · 22 February 2024]

I agree with the handful of good reviews. The film works even though the outcome is predictable, but the ending has an interesting twist. The pace is intentionally slow, but the pace adds to the suspense.

I was disappointed with the ending but the end makes sense.

Liked the mystery surrounding "White River" and how it's used.

The actors are all good. Abbie Cornish is especially good, but every time I see her I like her. Surprised to see Eddie Marsden and Anthony Hopkins. Both are outstanding actors, especially Marsden, even though their roles are minor.

I would recommend it to anyone into murder mysteries.

American Hustle (2013)

Incredible ensemble... Jennifer Lawrence manages to standout

[9/10 · 11 January 2024]

I saw this film when it opened. I was so impressed at how great each actor is in this film. The actors hum along like s fine tuned machine and yet make it feel real and fresh. With everyone giving outstanding performances it's a testament to how great Jennifer Lawrence really is, because she out shines every one. Every time she appears on the screen, it's like she's electrically charged. Great story and great dialogue Amy Irving and Christian Bale have incredible chemistry. Jeremy Renner really pulls off a very subtle comedic character, that reveals just how talented he is and that versatility totally surprised me. The less you know about the story the better but there are twists and turns that are better, if you have no idea what it's about, going in. It deserved all the academy award nominations it received.

Hit and Run (I) (2012)

Very Funny and jammed packed with stars!

[8/10 · 28 January 2023]

Dax and Kristen are such an engaging couple and this film is a Valentine to their relationship. Very funny and surprising to find Bradley Cooper, Kristen Chenoweth, Tom Arnold, Beau Bridges adding the sparkle to the amusing antics. The premise and snappy dialogue make for some truly hysterical sequences. The mistake Motel room shenanigans had me on the floor laughing. There are so many funny throw away lines that I was laughing throughout this sordid tale. I have watched this film more than once and still find this film hysterical. Dax Shepard has this twisted sense of humor that makes the whole affair funny and over the top that grounded by the excellent ensemble.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Excellent Version of a story that's been filmed many times

[9/10 · 20 August 2022]

I'm a huge fan of the original with Dana Wynter and Kevin McCarthy (who has a cameo in this film). This version is in color and the pacing and music really add to the tension. Everyone gives stellar performances. This is one instance where the remake is as good as the original. The film updates the story to incorporate the 70s. The horror is turned up a notch. Donald Sutherland is very believable and is the perfect pairing for Brooke Adams. Veronica Cartwright always stands out as the over wrought character that still keeps it together. I've seen it many times and every time I'm surprised how well it's held up. Very suspenseful and creepy. I wanted to give it a 10 but there are some weak spots but I'll you decide for yourself.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Incredible ensemble acting elevates this film to classic status

[10/10 · 25 April 2022]

I saw this film when it opened. Three or four years later a friend gave me a vinyl recording of the film. Several aspects of the production (IMHO) single out this film as being above many others. The cast is exceptional, where each actor embodies the core of the roles they assay. All four standout, but Elizabeth Taylor's performance is her best and arguably the best delivered by an actress in a lead role. She strips away those mannerisms that were prominent in her earlier performances. Her performance here is illuminating and a marvel considering the complexity of the role. The arch of her character as captured in this very complex story is riveting as played by Elizabeth Taylor. Sandy Dennis is truly astounding, delivering a performance so real, its as if she appears to have been pulled from the street and asked to react to the proceedings. Truly one if the best examples of Method Acting recorded on film. I have watched this film and just watched Dennis, she's mesmerizing and so believable, she grounds the film. Both Richard Burton and George Segal add the male perspective to the proceedings. Their exchange (without the wives) is so laden with revelation and calculated cruelty it reveals the pathos that underlines the entire story. There's a lot to be covered in this play and at times there's an unreal quality to the true nature of the characters backstories. What I find makes the play work, is having actors realistically portray characters caught in a stylized unrealistic chain of events that brings them together and ultimately tears them asunder.

You (2018–2024)

Good acting and writing for a very dark premise

[6/10 · 17 January 2022]

I haven't finished the 1st Season. People compare it to Dexter and I can certainly see why. The same "voice over" thoughts and a character that does horrendous things and always seems to get away with it. As much as I admired the acting and writing the twisted nature of the storyline is VERY off putting.

The Humans (2021)

Dark and creepy

[5/10 · 25 November 2021]

I just watched this on Showtime. I had no idea Amy Schumer was in it. Her part was very small. Not sure why there are so many haters. How she "ruined" the film escapes me. As for the film, I was intrigued. Not a lot transpired. I don't know why I had the impression it was a ghost story, because it's not. Moody and creepy. Reminded me of my apartment in NYC that was very old, with bathtub in the kitchen. I want to recommend it because I like Richard Jenkins (he's always good) but I just can't. Hard to embrace a story that doesn't really go anywhere. I still gave it a 5.

Finch (2021)

Very sentimental but the story carry's such a lovely message

[10/10 · 6 November 2021]

Tom Hanks is great in capturing the conflicting emotions of the character's experiences. The dog is incredible. I thought the dog was CGI. You come to believe the Robot is a person it's personality is so cleverly conceived.

Stowaway (I) (2021)

Very Very SLOW.

[2/10 · 24 April 2021]

A good third of the film is of the astronauts traveling via cable from the ship to retrieve an Oxygen tank. I'm sure the filmmakers were trying for suspense but it really was interminable. As someone pointed out why was the stowaway a stowaway to begin with? No explanation was forth coming.

Tell Me Your Secrets (I) (2021)

Excellent acting and interesting story that needs Season 2

[8/10 · 22 April 2021]

Everyone in this does an excellent job. I was captivated until the end. But now hear there a second season. Lots of loose ends to be completely satisfying. A previous reviewer commented on this as well. But we have to wait until 2022 for resolution.

S Is for Stanley (2015)

I love this film and the book that Inspired it

[10/10 · 22 February 2021]

It's not a film about film making but a personal account of a 30 year friendship that developed between Kubrick and his chauffeur. Emilio's role went from driver to personal assistant during the span of their relationship. It gives insight into the person that was Stanley Kubrick, not the filmmaker. It was years before Emilio saw any of Kubrick's films. His favorite? Spartacus, the least "Kubrick" film of all. 😂. Still their friendship and long association is heart warming. I value this most because I like knowing what Kubrick was like as a man as well as an artist.

This Is the End (2013)

Very Stupid, VERY funny

[8/10 · 27 September 2020]

The mixture of silly comedy and a horrific premise is hysterical. If you like Seth, Jonah, and James well you'll like this movie. These guys are so ridiculously funny. Not for everyone as evidenced by some negative reviews.

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961)

Vivian Leigh, Coral Browne and Lotte Lenya, Oh my!

[8/10 · 1 May 2020]

Tennessee Williams' favorite film adaptation. Dialogue is classic Tennessee. Vivian Leigh was the perfect embodiment of the doomed heroine. The two supporting actresses provide an excellent chorus that herald her decline. An oddly theatrical Italy, albeit filmed on location. The weakest part is Beatty. He certainly looks the part if only it had been a silent role. He would have been perfect as a mute gigolo.

Seeing it again, I'm left torn between knowing her fate and wishing she finds a more self realized awareness after a night of careless debauchery.

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Tennessee Williams at his most delirious. See this for Hepburn's performance.

[10/10 · 14 April 2020]

Tennessee wasn't pleased with this production. Although next to Vivian Leigh in Streetcar this character of Violet Veneble feels like it was written for Hepburn.

So much has been written about this film and all of it's depravity, after all it includes cannibalism, a topic Williams was fascinated by. Williams had a very distinct style of dialogue that was almost melodic. Hepburn's delivery is so theatrical but at the same time immensely believable. Her performance is hypnotizing and frightening.

Elizabeth's acting is almost comical "there... was... no... air" that she becomes more a character than a real person. She does redeem herself later in her career, acting OVER almost any other actress in "Virginia Woolf?"

One of my favorites. Watch enough times and you begin to see Williams' humor throughout. "We've done Cabeza De Lobo". 😂

Flawless (1999)

Hoffman and DeNiro are BOTH excellent in this very strange film.

[10/10 · 29 March 2020]

Seymour Phillip Hoffman is a standout in this film. His "drag queen" is one of the most real performances of a man dressed as a woman and what that means. The character is very real and extremely effective because of Hoffman's performance and the dialogue. The film is flawed unfortunately, but Hoffman and DeNiro's performances standout and rise WAY above the material.

Betrayal (1983)

Great Premise and Great Acting

[10/10 · 23 February 2020]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this film! Huge fan of Harold Pinter. Patricia Hodges is excellent. What terrific actress. They're all good. Both Jeremy Irons and Ben Kingsley are perfect. The story told in reverse makes sense and adds to tension of storyline. The ending is so beautifully crafted the very last scene stayed with me.

The Road (1954)

Easily my favorite Fellini film.

[10/10 · 29 March 2019]

La Strada is such a simple story. The black and white cinematography is very stark and creates an almost otherworldly environment. Felini's wife plays Gelsomina, a naive girl from a poor family who is taken in by Zampano (the strong man). In what almost feels like a fairy tale, Felini creates a story of three disparate characters who lives intersect and result in tragedy. Incredibly touching and sad. It's no wonder it's considered Fellini's masterpiece.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Excellent adaptation from a book

[10/10 · 15 December 2013]

I read some if the reviews that hated this movie. They all complained there was no story. I can't believe they missed it. The only thing I can say is the movie tells the "story" as it was written in the book. I think for many the fact that there's unresolved conflict is what causes them to feel there's no story. I saw the movie in the theater and was so moved by it I had to read the book which is even better than the movie. The movie and the book are very unconventional. Carmac McCarthy has a style of writing that's elusive and heavy with symbolism and that's told in a manner that makes it feel common place and real. His setting is Texas and his characters are everyday people from the region.

There was one reviewer who didn't understand the story and his questions were clearly explained. Maybe he stepped away at some point and missed some important scenes in the movie.

If you haven't seen this movie, watch it. It's incredibly disturbing. More of a horror movie than a crime drama. Years later I can watch this movie and still be blown away by the simplicity and deep emotional impact of the story.

Staircase (1969)

Interesting pairing of Richard Burton and Rex Harrison as lovers

[9/10 · 25 June 2007]

I saw this film when it opened in 1969. It did not do well at all,for obvious reasons, it was pretty "out there" for the time. There is this very interesting and off beat opening with two drag queens singing a song titled "staircase." The story, as I remember it, is about two older gay men who are lovers and own a barber shop. Richard Burton is quiet and sensitive and Rex Harrison is loud and insensitive.

A perfect pairing that reflects what so many relationships are about, opposites attract. There is a real caring warmth between these two older men, even with the philandering of one.

It's a small movie that really evokes life in the late 60s. Donen creates a very realistic, very British, middle class environment for his characters. The added twist is that this is a very moving story about two men who have been together as lovers and partners for many years.

One of a only few films dealing with men in a homosexual relationship that rings true and captures the reality of such a union.

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: An Unlocked Window (1965) Season 3, Episode 17

Best of the Alfred Hitchcock Hour

[10/10 · 12 August 2006]

Saw this episode as a kid. It was the scariest and the most suspenseful of the episodes. The previous writer claims the best is the "The Jar" I am not familiar with that episode.

Dana Wynter is great in this story. Creepy old house....a woman nurse alone taking care of an ailing older man....there's a killer on the loose and he's targeting nurses....she thinks she may have left a window in the basement unlocked! If you can get your hands on this episode you'll not regret it. I still remember it like it was yesterday!

There's a twist at the end that will chill you to your bones!

Hitchcock didn't have to change the stories on his TV show like he did in his commercial movies. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episodes are not compromised and often had a dark creepy ending.

I recently saw the 1st season of Alfread Hitchcock Presents is on DVD. I hope this one comes out soon!

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

Vile, disgusting, and it leaves you soiled.....with a darkened soul

[1/10 · 12 November 2005]

Reading some of the many comments about this film, I felt I should weigh in. This movie is extremely disturbing. Very dark. I remember it's release. There's a review of the film in Time magazine. I didn't see it then.

I think I saw it some 25 years later. I rented a video of it. I can tell you the feeling of absolute helplessness on the part of the victims is very disturbing. The scenes of torture and debasement are truly chilling.

You really do feel soiled once you've finished this film. Pasolini was murdered shortly after this film was released. Speculation was that it was one of the young actors in the film who killed him.

This is a horrific film. Not erotic, or exciting in any sexual way. Unless of course you get your pleasure from torture and debasement. This is a film about excessive behavior. It will make you sick and stay with you for a long time. It's not even that graphic, it's the subject matter and the depiction of depravity that takes a hold of you and churns your stomach.

Someone's comments said that you're better off not seeing this film. I'd have to agree, although curiosity has been known to kill the cat.

If you take pride in your knowledge of film and it's use either in a positive or negative form, you will see it. It will shake you and make you wonder what Pasolini was thinking, why he spent the time, money and energy to depict such horrible behavior.

Frightening and sobering. Not for the weak.....be forewarned. It's way more disgusting than erotic.

Petulia (1968)

Petulia you fool ya.....that was the original tag line

[10/10 · 12 November 2005]

I saw this film when it opened and recently bought the video and watched it again.

I remembered being very moved by the characters and the pairing of Julie Christie and George C Scott. Christie was so young and Scott was also still quite young as well. They had great chemistry. I didn't know that Shirley Knight was nominated for an award for her role. She's very good. Her scene with Scott where she's trying to appease him and he loses his temper is electric. She says more in her look, using her eyes to convey her hurt and confusion, than most actors say in too many words.

Julie Christie has always had a way of getting under your skin. She is able to make you care for her (a lot like she did in "Darling") despite the fact that her character initially comes off as flaky or "kooky." It starts out light and amusing then turns dark and insightful. I remembered this movie for years until I was able to buy the video. It is very 60's in sensibility. So, if you weren't around during that period, see this movie. It captures the sixties in way few films have done as well.

San Francisco looks beautiful in 1967.

John and Mary (1969)

Mia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman pairing...very interesting.

[9/10 · 11 November 2005]

I saw this film when it opened in 1969. My memory may be clouded by the past, but I remember enjoying the teaming of Mia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman very much.

Both actors are very good in this movie. It's a small intimate two character story and depicts the "one-night" stand morals that were just beginning to take hold.

The conceit is they don't ask each other's name until the end.

Mia had just completed "Rosemary's Baby" and Dustin had "The Graduate." They were young and especially successful as actors.

I highly recommend it, if you can find it.