Change Your Image
thesuthernman
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
A Hard Problem (2021)
Slow and methodical
This is a slow and methodical film that really isn't presenting anything new. It's almost a stream of consciousness type of film. What it does do, it does well. Most of the actors are really great, the editing could have been a little bit better. But there are some very well written thought-provoking lines, again nothing new but presented in a unique way. Personally, I like slow character driven films, if they're done well, and I think this one is. If you're looking for straight up Sci-Fi, action, a lot of special effects, this is not the film for you. The edits were a little slower than they had to be in some scenes, and a little longer than necessary, but other than that it was cool. The score was nice, not overdone. The two lead actors were good.
Class of '09 (2023)
I wanted to like it and I gave it a fair chance.
I wanted to like it, and I gave it a fair chance. The first episode was intriguing and kept my interest. But the more episodes in, I got the feeling the writers wanted to preach and teach more than just honestly entertain. I, as a viewer, don't need a writer of a fictional program on television to tell me what is right, wrong, or questionable. Simply present good episodes with a competent cast and crew and the moral of the story will ring true whether or not you spell it out for us. The really spectacular shows on television have mastered the difference between showing and telling, this is not one of those shows.
Grotesquerie (2024)
Niecy deserves a Grammy and a GG and whatever else they give out these days.
All I have to say is this right here... If Niecy Nash (I don't have time to worry about a hyphenated add-on to her name) doesn't win some kind of award for these performances in these 10 episodes, there is something wrong with the Hollywood system. Forget about what the show is about, whether you like the show or not, whether the other actors are good, or the direction is good, just watch the show because Ms. Nash is nothing short of interesting as f!*k. Now, I'm going to add this so my required minimum is met for this review. These shows are getting more and more demented because Hollywood is mostly demented.
Reagan (2024)
Went in expecting cheese...
Went in expecting cheese came out after a full six-course meal. I heard an excerpt of the movie on the radio and it sounded really bad. However, when I saw the same scene in the theater, it played perfectly. I don't always like Dennis Quaid, especially post Botox, but he was great in this. He did just enough of Reagan's voice, expressions, and mannerisms without over doing it. The same could be said for the actress playing Nancy, she was just enough. The film is edited well and probably catering to those with short attention spans. It's hard to get the entire life of a man who did as much as Reagan in a two hour movie, but they hit the high points and moved on at a brisk pace. Yeah, sure, it made the man out to be a saint, but I dunno, maybe he was. I was a young liberal college student when he was in office, I had a great dislike for the man. I've since learned so much (not because of this film, but because of life). Great film. Inspiring.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Managed some nice original moments
Fun movie, very well directed. There were some cleverly written and filmed sequences of original creative action sequences. The only drawback for me was that the film did not deal with time progression very well ... actually they just avoided dealing with it at all -- if you see the movie, you'll know what I mean. The young actors were well directed, which helped a lot. They took a slightly different approach to the android and I think it was a smart choice. The visuals were good and I liked the details involving the asteroid belt, both as it relates to the plot and the visuals. It's not your father's Alien, but it might be your mother's.
Elsbeth (2024)
Borders on being too much of a good thing
André De Shields will probably be nominated for an Emmy for his Guest Starring Role for episode 10. If not, he should be. The writers either felt the need to depart from the redundant formulaic structure of the series with episode 10 or a focus group suggested it. Either way, it was a good episode and hopefully it will encourage the writers to take more chances with structure. When you have such a strong and vibrant lead character that leans towards being a caricature, the viewers can get a little too much of a good thing. Fortunately, good casting and writing in the supporting characters is so far balancing the show. Let's see if they can continue to balance a show that couldn't help but overly rely on the character that brought it to life in the first place.
Elsbeth: A Fitting Finale (2024)
A Fitting episode
André De Shields will probably be nominated for an Emmy for his Guest Starring Role. If not, he should be. The writers either felt the need to depart from the redundant formulaic structure of the series with this episode or a focus group suggested it. Either way, it was a good episode and hopefully it will encourage the writers to take more chances with structure. When you have such a strong and vibrant lead character that leans towards being a caricature, the viewers can get a little too much of a good thing. Fortunately, good casting and writing in the supporting characters is so far balancing the show. Let's see if they can continue to balance too much of a good thing.
Leverage: Redemption (2021)
What a difference 10 years makes
What a difference 10 years makes, and it's not a good difference. This show makes me long for the prewoke era of television. The first leverage was well written and performed. The actors really became a great ensemble cast with stories that weren't about agendas and cultural politics. Redemption doesn't have enough time to redeem itself, unfortunately. I'm near the end of season one and it's not getting any better. On top of the issues just noted, the character of Parker is way over the top and cornballish. The other actors seem a little bored with the material. There's no spark. I will not be watching season 2.
Infinite Storm (2022)
A beautiful story, beautifully told.
A beautiful story beautifully told. Yes, it's slow and moody. There isn't much action. There are few characters. If all that's okay with you, ignore the ridiculous reviews of this film. Naomi Watts is wonderful. The story is poetically directed and filmed. There are a few stories going on, yet if you're not paying attention, it all seems so singular. The fact that it is a true story only adds to the seemingly impossibility of it all. I don't know, maybe it's just me being a sap, but I was truly touched with both the story and the portrayals. I can't really find a fault with this film. It is what it is. Not the kind of movie I would normally watch, but I'm obviously pleased I gave it a shot.
The Good Mother (2023)
Not what it billed.
This is a super slow burn. I typically like it slow and sexy, but the general writing and obvious lack of real life experiences on the subject matter was obvious. The writing was just not up to the level of the talent.
If the writer(s) don't know the real world of drugs then they should have focused on the other theme of the mother getting back to her life as a writer (I assume they should know a few things about that).
I was initially drawn in with the expectation that it would be about the mother getting her life back. That's not what happened. There was the typical movie plot twist with an ending that left you not knowing the choice made.
Leverage (2008)
Pilot episode was super corny, glad I continued
I'm only in the middle of the second season. The series as a whole started off slow, especially the very first episode. I think the actors are finding their groove and it shows. The writers are also finding what works well with the ensemble. It's a fine line traversing this kind of action/comedy show. The first episode came off way too corny. We know it's TV and all ridiculous, but if it's done well, playing within their own rules, an audience will play along.
Not sure what the next few seasons will bring. Many shows have a great 2nd and third and sometimes goes down hill. We shall see. My favorite episode so far was S2 E5.
Leverage: The Three Days of the Hunter Job (2009)
Best episode yet
This one had me laughing my A*s off. The series as a whole started off slow, especially the very first episode. I think the actors are finding their groove and it shows. The writers are also finding what works well with the ensemble. It's a fine line traversing this kind of action/comedy show. The first episode came off too corny. We know it's TV and all ridiculous, but if it's done well, playing within their own rules, an audience will play along.
Not sure what the next few seasons will bring. Many shows have a great 2nd and third and sometimes goes down hill. We shall see. At least this episode was great.
Astrid (2017)
Where has this sleeper been hiding?
I can't believe there are no reviews and so few ratings for this show. I've only seen the first episode but that alone is worth the 8 star rating.
The actors (all of them) are talented and charming. I don't speak French, but the actors have great inflections and even though I'm reading the words, the meaning and sensitivity comes through the vocalizations. The characters may not be original (is there anything new under the sun?), but the characters are fresh and interesting nonetheless.
The locations are nice. I'm used to mostly American and Canadian locations, so it's nice seeing a new setting in France.
The direction is spot on, character building is nice. The storyline was nothing mind blowing, but I watch TV for the characters more than the story.
Give this show a try, even if you don't like subtitles, it'll be worth the effort.
Wonka (2023)
Loved the original, hated the remake, this one sits in the middle somewhere
I loved the original, hated the remake, this one sits in the middle somewhere. It's definitely a mixed bag. I googled Timothée Chalamet to see how old he was because had he been in his early twenties, I would have given him a pass for a very uninspired performance. As it is, he is 28. Old enough, with enough films under his small belt, to be better than he is.
I got the feeling he watched more Depp than Wilder, unfortunately. You could see it in the smile. Wilder was crazy good and there is no expectation for anyone to equal him, it would still be nice to be more imaginative with the role.
The storyline was a mish-mash of unfocused stereotypes and had a lack of real artistic heart. Someone sat with the script and tried to come up with what they thought an audience would want rather than what these characters and storylines demand. The story skipped around like a ball in a pinball machine. We get that it's fantasy, but at least create a world that functions on the basis of a well thought out set of rules. There was no world building here...just a snap of the fingers.
The music was the most disappointing of all, especially compared to the original songs utilized. When you have great songs like Pure Imagination, you gotta be at least good enough to sit in the same room...these new songs weren't good enough to sit outside in the hallway.
With all that said, this movie was charming in it's own way. Better than the typical superhero repeats, that's for sure.
Beacon 23 (2023)
One really good episode...one out of eight
Unfortunately, one great episode does not a good series make. Let's start with the writing. So, we are in a space station of sorts that keeps getting infiltrated, but none of the characters learn from their mistakes. They keep trusting the obviously bad characters and the repetitious conflicts continue on ad nauseam.
The show is so ambiguous in plot and theme that they just keep bouncing around the same subjects over and over and over. We never really understand why anyone is where they are and why they can't go somewhere else. The few fragmented relationships that exist don't seem authentic or well developed but rather are random and haphazardly constructed.
The primary set and setting look cool, but it is negated by odd costuming choices. Apparently this is far in the future but one character in episode 8 was wearing mom jeans and a sweater from Forever 21 -- circa 2010 no less. Other characters had similar issues.
I absolutely loved the episode with Barbara Hershey. For that I am not mad that I had to suffer through the other 7 episodes.
Beacon 23: God in the Machine (2023)
Great episode
This could have been a stand alone episode. Very well written and well acted. One of the best things I've ever seen Barbara Hershey do. I suppose the two characters as well as the AI characters played well off one another. I was losing faith in this show, but after this episode, I'll continue watching.
It's disappointing that the reviews are required.to be a certain length. The first paragraph is really all that needs to be written concerning my opinion. But I will continue on this second paragraph until the number of characters is satisfied. There is no reason to keep reading beyond the first paragraph and I sincerely apologize if you have gotten this far. This ridiculous policy should be changed.
Green Lantern (2011)
Why did I like this movie so much!?
Why did I like this movie so much!? Maybe because I watched it umpteen years after it was first released. I'm not a huge fan of Reynolds, but he was appropriately cast. Superheroes need humility and humor or we get bored. The film was more fantasy than sci-fi and that works in its favor. Yes, there were a few plot holes that I won't go into, but for me they can be explained away and did not distract me too much. It also oddly jumped from one place to another several times with no explanation, but also can be explained away. I avoided watching this movie for so long, and I'm glad I did. It works better today than it would have when released. It's less polished and less dependant on effects than the oversaturated superhero movies that have come since.
Nate Bargatze: Hello World (2023)
Relatably funny
I've heard this dude many times on Sirius FM, but I've never seen him live or on TV for an entire routine. I was pleasantly surprised. Even if every joke wasn't laugh out loud funny, there was a smile on my face the entire time. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments as well. Most good comedians are relatable but this guy is the most relatable I've ever heard. The jokes all come from real stuff, which is always the funniest stuff. It was 100% an added bonus that he doesn't need foul language or risque jokes to be funny. It's so much harder to keep a crowd laughing when you can't resort to the lowest common denominator, or so it seems with most comedians these days.
The Borrowers (2011)
The best version I've seen.
I have not seen all of the versions, but of the ones I have seen, this was the best. It has aged well. It is funny and also charming. Very strong actors and good direction make it work.
I have not seen all of the versions, but of the ones I have seen, this was the best. It has aged well. It is funny and also charming. Very strong actors and good direction make it work.
I have not seen all of the versions, but of the ones I have seen, this was the best. It has aged well. It is funny and also charming. Very strong actors and good direction make it work.
Summary: A very good version of a classic.
Kin (2018)
Surprisingly enjoyable
Both my wife and I really enjoyed this film. We didn't know anything about it so we weren't biased or influenced by reviews or a synopsis. The actors were great, the direction spot on. The character development was better than most films of this genre. It may seem slow to some people but stick with it, it has somewhere to go and it gets there. The kid was really good. It was nice to see an unknown in a strong leading role, he showed many colors. I suppose there could have been an awesome part two of the movie had done better. I had never heard of it so it probably has zero marketing. Bring is part two anyway.
Smile (2022)
Oddly great acting and great direction.
It's rare when a horror film has both great acting and directing. This one has both. Worth watching just for the talent. The Director of photography was spot on as well. Yeah, it made me jump and squirm too. I can't say that the story was out of this world original, it had the typical progression of any horror film but it was enough to keep me interested. There were a few good subtle twists that were interesting. If you like suspenseful creepy horror films, this one is for you. It's definitely comparable to the ring and that genre. This one is a little more unpredictable and suspenseful than the ring.
Vesper (2022)
A sight for thirsty eyes
In a world of rehashed artistic expression, this was a refreshing view of someone's distinct vision. The costumes were original, the sets were amazing, the characters authentic, and the plot singular -- yet all encompassing. This movie was not only visually appealing to me, but it was also beautifully scored. The music was futuristically fitting as well as relatable. It's not the typically fast paced dribble from Hollywood, this is art with a plot and good acting. It won't be everyone's idea of an enjoyable evening at home, but for those of us who like this kind of stuff--it was beautiful and enthralling.
The Good Fight (2017)
Great acting, solid writing, but overwhelmed with wokeness..
Another talented cast and crew consumed with hatred towards those who don't agree with their paradigm. Hey, I'm open enough to acknowledge their talent and their well-done show. I actually like it, but never an episode goes by that they don't express their total disdain for me and my beliefs. I might even be okay with that if they expressed alternate views, but it is so one sided that it becomes almost childish-like they are trying to convince people to believe as they do. The Good Wife was of the same ilk, but somehow, they managed to insert a few episodes and characters of differing views that were redeemable. The main problem is that the creators and the writers assume if they write it, it is true. They are far too biased to realize the world of diversity is more than their self-constructed definition of diverse. They are also too consumed with their political bias to recognize it is possible to create amazing art without it.
The Education of Fredrick Fitzell (2020)
I guess I need to start watching more low rated movies
I almost passed this by because of the low rating. This is a work of art. It's so wonderfully crafted. If you're not up for moody, somewhat depressing, and often confusing cinema then you get a pass. But if you're in the mood for an artsy, interpretive flick, sit down and enjoy. It's thought-provoking. The acting is solid. The movie is well made from inception to the final product. It is definitely not a movie for everyone, but if you are the one, give it a try. I've read some of the online commentaries and in my opinion, I haven't found one yet that gets it all right. But then again, it may be one of those films that speaks a different story to each person watching it.
Making the Cut (2020)
Does anyone see the irony?
Hilarious. So the dude who wins season 3 is dressed in a monstrosity he designed and Tim has to come give him his jacket because he's freezing. This alone made up for the waste of my eyeball juice. I would have stopped at juice but apparently I need more character's in my review. It's a shame that art now embodies the very thing artists once struggled against. Modern artists have embraced conformity and political correctness in a way that astounds me. Women have been wearing men's fashion for literally hundreds.of years. Men have literally been wearing women's fashion for hundreds of years. You aren't doing anything new. You aren't turning anything upside down.