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Reviews
Brats (2024)
Look At Me, I'm Still Relevant
It was interesting from the perspective of seeing where everyone is now. I feel it can across as McCarthy whining about something that happened 30+ years ago, and was perceived by him as something not entirely as he was interpreting. When that article and label first came out I saw the term Brat Pack as primarily a play on the label Rat Pack to make the comparison and contrast with the coming of a different era and generation in Hollywood. I feels as though Andrew McCarthy is loading blame on to one article for his lack of success or more success in his chosen career. Instead maybe he should look more at his selection of roles and his acting abilities. If he would have leaned into the term things would likely have been different. Another thing that comes through is that there is probably a reason, of all the young actors in Hollywood at the time, including many who appeared in movies alongside them, that this group received that label and that they may have perceived it in a negative light. Look at the publicity they received for some very bad behavior at times. Maybe they were acting like entitled brats more than most, I don't know, just speculation. In the end it feels like he's trying to get everyone worked up over nothing that happened over thirty years ago. Let it go, Andrew. If you don't look forward you're going to run off the road.
Spaceman (2024)
Deja Vu All Over Again
Spaceman is a love story. The setting is not really important and Hanish could have been anything, or nothing. It is a very serene movie and I walked away feeling good about viewing it and the ending. However, the theme and the execution was not unique. I was throughout the movie being reminded of many that preceded this, particularly 2010. It is slow paced, almost too slow, and at some point it is repetitive. We get the theme early on and are reminded of it throughout. The narration is good but maybe a bit too much. Regardless of the rating given, most of the other reviews mail it in some way, so I won't add on anymore. I just want to say to the guy that gave the movie a '1' rating because "space isn't real" and it is a conspiracy between NASA and movies should lay off the hallucinogens.
Parenthood (2010)
Dysfunction Junction
I thought that maybe my view of this show would moderate over the years since first viewing it when initially broadcast. However, time has simply reinforced my opinion that the Bravermans are one of the most, it not the most, dysfunctional families ever. Christina is probably the most tight-a**ed of them all, pioneering what a Karen is all about. None of the parents even begin to effectively parent, instead the children run the households, epitomizing self-centered, brattiness and lifting it to an art form. Instead of taking the opportunity to model some effective parenting skills for a child with autism, the show, and the parents, instead model how to entitle a child and teach that child how to make the household bend to their will. The acting is mostly average, but then there is Laura Graham who has apparently forgotten how to act. Most irritating is for some reason the director(s) apparently think that normal people are constantly talking over one-another and have everyone in a scene trying to deliver their lines at the same time. All that said, it is an entertaining show, even if it is irritating to watch.
Masters of the Air (2024)
B-17s Are Incredible
I just began a marathon to watch this series, and am a couple episodes in. Expectations were high, considering the topic, the all-star line-up of the developers, producers, creators and behind-the-scenes crowd along with their auspicious track records. I was not impressed with the cast line-up, but figured they would probably rise-up to the level of their crew. I have been impressed by the attention to detail and the historical accuracy of even the smallest details. The quality and accuracy of the CGI is superb. Unfortunately, I find the acting to be cliche and superficial, and undermined the quality and believability of the whole production. I loved the movie, and subsequent series, Twelve O'Clock High. Masters of the Air, to me, is a much more cinematic production of that series, with lower quality acting (at least by the leads) and a less-engaging story line. I rated it at 5 because B-17s were one of the greatest and most beautiful aircraft ever created and produced. It was a great seeing them in action.
Saving Grace (2007)
Didn't Age Well
When this was first released, I made it a point to not miss each new episode. I was very exciting to see Holly Hunter in a series since she was one of my favorite actresses. And this show really pushed the envelope in just about every sense. The plot lines were creative and interesting and the characters mostly had some genuine depth and variety. However, it wasn't long before that brand new car smell began to wear off. I am not a cop, but I have worked a lot with police, but I would love to hear the opinion of a real detective division, or, the opinion of the OCPD detectives about how they are portrayed. I get how dramatization and effect often sacrifices reality for the sake of impact and story, but these guys came across as buffoons. I found the nudity to be particularly gratuitous a mostly unnecessary. I felt that it was simply provocative, just showing how 'edgy' they could be. Some, much, of the acting was effective and engaging. I particularly like Leon Rippy in his role as an angel and Bailey Chase and Gregory Cruz were particularly effective. But Holly Hunter's, Kenny Johnson's and Laura Giacomo's scenes were typically chaotic (Hunter and Johnson) shallow and amateurish. Each episode eventually came across to me as a vanity project stroking the ego of an aging actress. If you can accept the xhallenges with the acting, settings and writing, it can be a fun watch.
The Family Plan (2023)
Been There...Done That
Basically a remake of the other 87 movies sharing the same theme that preceded this. However, it is a fun family watch, even though it is formulaic and predictable. We get a more suburban, 'Dad' Wahlberg, Moynihan (sp?) slides right into the role of Mom. It is pretty slow to develop but the action picks up. It suffers from the typical glaring continuity and consistency issues, usually inherent in these types of films, but they're easy to get past and settle into the rhythm. There is a bit of a twist at the end, but we knew that the encounter wasn't accidental to begin with. Grab some popcorn, get some blankets and settle-in for a relaxing family movie night.
God's Favorite Idiot (2022)
A Great Big Meh
I like Melissa McCarthy, but this is a big swing and a miss. Her character is abrasive and not likeable and not in a good way.the plot, writing and acting are all forced and don't quite wedge together.
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Not bad, but...
Overall a very good western. Some of the characters come off a bit cliche. Sarsgaard is a distraction as he is doing a very bad Gary Oldman impersonation.
BigBug (2022)
Zzzzzz
Stunning sets and costumes. The cast put forth good effort. The film, though, was tedious, heavy-handed and lacked imagination. It was an extended version of an episode for a bad sitcom.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
Meh
Tries to be a comedy and tries to be a mystery but doesn't really succeed at either. No real epiphanies or suspense, or humor for that matter. It's ok, but...meh.
Picket Fences (1992)
Best Bad or Worst Best
Loved the show and watched it religiously when it was first aired. Now that I'm re-watching the series again, the many, many flaws are clear. The writing is simplistic and plot lines are quite often a stretch, to the point of being ridiculous. And how many times do I see Tom Skerrit with that quizzical and confused look on his face with a sidelong glance as he appears to practically tip over? Even with all of that, it is a terrific series and always entertaining. One of my favorites.
McCartney 3,2,1 (2021)
What's Not To Like
I am a self-avowed Beatle Nut. Anytime I get to hear any of the Fab Four talk about themselves and the group and their creative process, well, I'm there. Each episode was a treat. Even the stories that had been heard or read countless times before were fresh. My only complaints are; 1) Why only six episodes? There was so much left to be shared. And, B) it ended abruptly and at such an odd spot in his history. It felt like there was going to be more but something caused them to shut off the cameras and walk away. The only thing disappointing was the end.
American Horror Stories (2021)
Sub-Mediocre
All episodes are contrived, formulaic and predictable.
Chattahoochee (1989)
Ran Out of Money?
Gary Oldman has always been one of my favorite actors, and teamed-up with Dennis Hopper makes it even better. Almost everything one could want in a motion picture is contained here. The one problem I had with this is the ending. The movie effectively takes the viewer down a path or progressive intensity and escalating tension right up until one of the final scenes; a fact gathering hearing. You expect the next scenes are going to crescendo to the 'man' getting their die with images of reform and retribution. Instead the final scene is a freeze frame of a clean-shaven Emmet walking free with a scrolling paragraph summarizing the outcome. It seemed like a cop-out way to close the movie because they were either at a loss for the right method or they ran out of money and had to stop, or maybe both. The ending just wasn't satisfying after a terrific build-up.
Hausu (1977)
Can't Look Away
I first saw House when I was in the Marine Corps and stationed in Japan. It had been just released and we saw it at a Japanese theater, so no sub-titles. My Japanese was passable so I was able to understand a bit. There was a huge disconnect between what I could understand and the scenes, but I was captivated by the images, the settings and particularly the house itself. Years later I happened upon it on TCM and was able to connect the dots and became more enthralled with the movie. The mix of fantasy and horror with the innocence and seemingly disjointed way scenes are presented at times simply grabbed me. One of my favorites.
Change in the Air (2018)
Pleasant, but...
It was a pleasant movie, but too disjointed and too many loose ends. It also swung between heavy-handed messaging and trailing off without clearly giving a clear message
There's a Girl in My Soup (1970)
Waste of Time
Pure fluff and nonsense. Admittedly not a fan of either Hawn or Sellers But this is pure vanilla ice cream with absolutely no chemistry. I didn't like it when it was first released and viewing it recently reinforced that opinion.
The Naked Monster (2005)
Don't Miss This One
Definitely low quality and budget production, but a terrific comedy / "horror" movie you won't regret watching. One of the precursors to Airplane-like films. Can only imagine how it would have turned-out with a bigger budget. Fun movie!
Aftermath (2017)
Reviewing More Waste of Time
Writing this review is the only thing that was a bigger waste of time...that I will never get back.
The Tomorrow Man (2019)
Expected More
I expected more from a movie with two exceptional actors. Unfortunately it was boring, weak and shallow. Time I can't get back.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Normal Again (2002)
Second Best Buffy Episode
This is how the series should have ended; the uncertainty of Buffy being a slayer or it all being in her mind and causing her to be institutionalized.
Washington (2020)
Factual but...
Very factual but not very engaging. Also looks like Prince Charles was cast as George Washington 😝
The Orville (2017)
Jumped the Shark?
Loved the first season but the second has left a lot to be desired. Pretty early in the life cycle but unless things turn around I fear they may have already jumped the shark
The Guest Book (2017)
Great 1st Season - WTF 2nd Season
The first season was great. Just watched the first two episodes of season 2, and this isn't even the same show. Did you lose all of the writers? It's just gotten weird, but not in a quirky fun way.
A Star Is Born (2018)
Enjoyed the movie but not sold on it
It was a Lady Gaga vehicle and she shone brightly, but she was about the only thing that got me. I felt like Cooper was channeling Kristoferson. Most characters were not developed fully and I wasn't sold on Jack's alcohol problems. Sam Elliott's character was neither necessary or believable as Jack's brother.