curiouslurker Reviews

Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)

What possessed Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan to do this film?

[4/10 · 16 May 2021]

Emily Blunt is far too talented for such a cringey movie, and it's hard to believe that an actual Irish person such as Jamie Dornan would participate in this film. These accents were terrible. I question whether Christopher Walken was even attempting an accent for 90% of his screen time. Accents aside, this movie perhaps tried to be quirky but was more 'WTF' than anything else. Give it a go if you like really cheesy, only occasionally entertaining rom-coms filled to the brim with bad Irish stereotypes.

Happiest Season (2020)

Not terrible but...

[6/10 · 17 December 2020]

I liked a lot about this movie, especially the cast, but I spent most of the movie hating one of the main characters and that character's family, so that really took the enjoyment out of it for me. The acting was great, but I found those specific characters so unlikable that it was an uneven result for me.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

I wanted to love it but...

[6/10 · 14 December 2018]

The acting was great, especially Regina King. She deserves every award she is nominated for in this pic. I heard so much about this film at TIFF and I was so looking forward to seeing it, but I didn't get around to it until December. The direction and pacing were almost too deliberate, to the point of distraction, and at times the camera work left me feeling motion sick. What it comes down to, though, is the ending. It felt unfinished and I walked away from the film feeling like the story hadn't been told. Too bad, really, because it was starting to look like a beautiful, if tragic, film.

Derailed (I) (2005)

Could have been a good movie

[6/10 · 1 April 2006]

A suspenseful "thriller" that could have been a great movie. I say "could have", because it was simply mediocre. Clive Owen carries the movie, but even he isn't at his best due to the bumpy direction. Dialogue doesn't flow or come naturally, and things drag out where they could have been omitted from the movie entirely. The plot in itself is great, and Vincent Cassel steals almost every scene he's in, but I found myself wanting to fast forward through parts of it. I don't think this was a great vehicle for Jennifer Aniston. She doesn't take as big a role in the movie as the trailers lead us to believe, when she does have dialogue, too often she's limited to squeals and whimpers. I can't say I didn't like Derailed, but it's definitely not one of those movies I'd want to watch again.

Closer (I) (2004)

Love ain't always pretty

[8/10 · 18 March 2006]

I recently watched this movie again and was stunned that I'd forgotten how good it is. As I watched it, it occurred to me (without any prior knowledge of it) that this must have been adapted from a play. This is real acting and not just Hollywood magic. The characters are captivating and *human* - obsessive, insecure, vulnerable and yes, at times nasty. This is not a glossed-over, Disnified story of what love and relationships should be like.

It's funny, because this movie now rates among my top 5 favourite movies and yet my best friend said that she absolutely hated it because it portrays such a cynical view of love. Well, you know what? There are plenty of cynics out there. There are plenty of people who have asked their cheating lovers the dirty details of the affair, and just as many who obsess over their loves in the darkest manner.

On the other hand, my friend also listens to the "Soft Hits and Love Songs" radio station while I prefer the Smiths. I suppose in the end, this movie isn't for you if you refuse to look at the world without your rose coloured glasses.