tarmer1 Reviews

Your Place or Mine (2023)

If You Like Average, You'll Love This

[5/10 · 12 February 2023]

The most average rom-com possible. Hallmark films have more life and originality. I found myself longing for a guy in flannel to sweep the lead of her feet. While those films have the same basic storyline at least they're entertaining.

Vanilla ice cream is my favorite. Vanilla movies are not. Who doesn't like Reese Whitherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. But not in this dull, flat, lifeless film.

Steve Zahn and Tig Notaro were wasted and those roles could've been played by no name up and coming actors to at least give someone new a shot.

Perfectly generic. At least it had a good budget so the production value was nice. Good job with the LED volume scenes in New York.

Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)

Watch If you like Spectacular Acting and thoughtful storytelling

[10/10 · 8 August 2020]

Mark Rylance's performance in this film makes it well worth watching. The film is not your typical fast paced Superhero action film that people are so used to today. The film has a Lawrence if Arabia-esque setting and is thoughtfully directed like films of that era. Director Ciro Guerra takes his time and allows the actors to carry the film. It's not a quick cutting, move the camera just for the sake of moving it film.

It is actually something of a Biblical Alegory. The themes of honor, commitment, empathy and purpose resonate throughout. Rylance as the Magistrate embodies the role as something of a Christ like surrogate. Not in the sense of a divine nature but in the characteristics of caring for people. He cares for the sinners, the ones that society deems the lowest. Without spoiling anything, a couple of scenes illustrate this beautifully in the washing of a woman's feet and a Crucifixion parable.

The villains portrayed by Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson are Pontius Pilot and Roman Centurions. While these characters don't have enough screen time to fully arc. There is development of their characters.

A beautiful film with great acting is always something to be savored and enjoyed.

The Art of Pain (2008)

Great Independent film

[9/10 · 12 January 2009]

Art of Pain is an excellent example of all that is good in Independent film-making. A fun, amusing, well made feature that gives the viewer 90 minutes (or so) of solid entertainment. A mashup of styles and genres that does what films like this are supposed to do, entertain.

With quirky writing and cleaver dialogue the film pulls you along and keeps you chuckling all the way through. It's a film for people who get IT whatever IT is. And IT can be different for different people, that's why it's so good.

Definitely catch a screening if you can and hopefully you'll be able to grab it on DVD sooner rather than later.

Flash Gordon (2007–2008)

Worst show ever.

[10 November 2007]

Not only is this the worst Sci Fi channel series ever it's possibly the worst TV show ever. I love how the creator claimed to want to make a less "campy" version of the show and then he has guys running around in capes, squawking like birds and he calls them Hawkmen. Hello actual Hawkmen with wings would be infinitely better.

For God's sake this whole show takes place in the woods of Maryland half the time. Flash Gordon in earlier incarnations was a star Polo Player, Football Player and in the cartoon (which is excellent by the way) worked for the State Dept. (read between the lines, he's a badass spy). Trapped on an Alien world that presents all sorts of problems.

The brilliant reimaging has him as a grease monkey who lives at home with his Mom. Ohhh you are the baddest Flash, don't run home to your mommy who by the way looks like she popped you out when she was 8.

The writing is laughable at best. And who's brain stilting idea was it to have Dale wear her shirt backwards for an entire episode. Seriously she's supposed to have the same color shirt as a rival reporter so they put the exact same shirt on her, but backwards. It looks horrible. It hangs too long in front, bunches up in the neck and makes her look like she was dressed by a drunk 3rd grader.

And still the worst part of this show... the ugly girls. Dale is pretty hot but lord strike me dead every other woman on this show is hideous. Who are they sleeping with to get these parts and worse who would sleep with them in the first place. At least if there were some hot chicks to look at this show might be worth watching. Ugh.