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Reviews
Good People (2014)
Convenience, Convenience, Convenience plus Stupidity = Too Bad
Too bad because what a great cast! Kate Hudson and James Franco are always interesting to watch, and their chemistry together was really nice in this film. Totally believable. And then there's the awesome Tom Wilkinson, terrific in just about everything he's in, and a new favorite, Omar Sy (loved him in the French film,The Untouchables.) When I put the movie in and watched the first 30 minutes, I was enjoying it. Then convenient writing starting seeping in and I lost all interest. I won't go into detail...I'm too tired right now honestly. But it just pisses me off when writers are lazy and good actors go to waste (and allow themselves to be in films like this!) There are just too many dumb decisions the characters make about 2/3's the way into the film to stay hooked. You are just like, "wow, they let this film get made???" Pisses me off again! Hell, I have 2 screenplays that would kick this one's ass. Mainly because I'm anal about not being convenient. Biggest pet peeve of all, because it's so easy to do. Not sure if it was the novelist or the screenplay writer but come on! You can do better than this - either of you or both of you! Damn. I'm disappointed :(
They Came Together (2014)
what a waste of paul rudd and a few others
How can it be that someone as talented as Paul Rudd would take a role in a piece of crap like this? How the hell does a piece of crap like this even get made? I am just shocked (yet again). It has to be some sort of nepotism connection for such a suck ass script to get an opportunity to get made. And maybe Paul, Ed and Amy owe somebody a favor? It's just worthless drivel. Screwing your bubie...I'm sorry, but that's just so bad on many levels. Firstly, it's amateur, not to mention just dumb. So sorry I rented it even for just a buck. This movie is still playing while I am typing this. But I can't see it which is fitting.
Captain Phillips (2013)
Really?
I really appreciate Tom Hanks as an actor, so when I go to the Redbox and look for something to rent that could be a decent film, I can kind of count on anything he's in to be at least watchable and worth my time. However, this film frustrated me. Mostly because this actually happened in real life and it didn't need to happen. Then, then they add insult to injury by making a movie out of it.
Here's why I am scratching my head over this...
The shipping line, the US Navy and US government are aware there is piracy constantly happening off the coast of Africa. Yet, these large cargo ships head out there without any protection. They cannot expect the crew to be guards/mercenaries/troops, etc. Fair enough. However, why not avoid a hijacking in the first place by hiring a few trained professionals to handle a potential problem? Seems so simple to do that. All the time I am watching two motor boats with about 8 guys go after a big ship I'm thinking, "what? can't they take care for his situation easily? Aren't prepared for this? Don't they have someone on board to take these peons out?"
Apparently not. Instead, the Navy et al have to get involved, potentially jeopardizing lives, spending tax payers money, etc because those in charge did not take precautions. It made me more angry and annoyed than sympathetic. About 1/3 into the film I had to stop watching because I thought the whole notion they DIDN'T hire anyone to safeguard them was the dumbest move ever! I lost all interest at that point.
Note to shipping lines...hire a few key personnel to safeguard your ship so something like "Captain Phillips" doesn't have to happen.
2016: Obama's America (2012)
I am so glad this filmmaker made this film
Oddly, not for the reasons he seemed intent on - to set up a lot of conjecture about Obama. But because it has inspired me to become more interested and active in doing my own further independent study of what is and has been going on in America for decades, if not the entire 20th century. What I have studied and gleaned on my own (via reading, travels abroad and getting to know non Americans over the last 15 plus years) has already helped me to see under the veneer of the "American Dream". The American Dream has come at a cost for many all around the world. Colonization is an old world idea and should not be active any longer. America in it's original inception, was to be a beacon of hope for those to live as freely as possible. Yes, founding fathers did a hell of a job establishing this country for that purpose. I am grateful. However, no system is perfect so we continue to form this union in various way - for better or worse. This makes sense. However, IMO, where we started going off the path was in the early 20th century with the establishment of the Federal Reserve and every subsequent war that followed. When/if you do the research, the FR (owned by elite world bankers) started reshaping our country and it's interests all over the world. We don't necessarily go in to establish Democracy - that's a cover. We go in to dominate and take resources (very similarly to how D'Souza described what the UK did with India.) We are very close allies with Israel because of the Jewish ties to the Federal Reserve and that is who is really running the world (the US included). So, based upon that, the Muslim countries do get the shaft quite often. The playing field is not level. If you do research on how the Federal Reserve got put into place, who runs it, how the issue US currency and basically control all that goes on monetarily, you'll wake up to how things are really done.
It seems to me, if there is any valid point in this film that Obama is "following the dreams of his father" it's to level the playing field around the world. I love America and what it stands for in it's original declaration of being a free nation. Not one that goes in to dominate, control, and leave devastated nearly every country it occupies. Those days need to end. We need to focus on our own needs - not "growth" but needs. This obsession America has to have the most (money, cars, nuclear warheads, etc) is sickening to me. Its like we are on automatic pilot and nothing will stand in our way to remain on top. Remember Rome, people. It's inauthentic. I honestly can't read Obama's mind, but something tells me that on some level perhaps he is trying to level the world's playing ground. And why not? Wasn't 911 an act from Muslim extremists who feel neglected or screwed, even? How do children act out when neglected? It's time for us to wake up and see that America has become the big bully and really, we need to be the responsible, wise sibling who leads by demonstration. Otherwise, we'll continue to be a Tit for Tat world as we have been for the last 100 years. War after war. Crisis after crisis. I'd actually prefer the other countries of the world to lead themselves in their own way/s. And for us to get out of their way. Maybe then the nuclear warheads will be unnecessary. These are kind of common sense, rational, humane ways to be - instead of building up our military to defend and defeat the world.
In my opinion, the US is currently out of control with what the American Dream is, anyway. Is having more, more, more what freedom is about? Is it not gluttony? (I'm not religious by the way.) It's kind of gross that all we are is measured by output and income and being overnight millionaires. Where's the integrity we used to have? The quality? Where is the investment in our own people (via industry or education)? Jobs have gone all over the world to exploited countries because it's cheaper and the upper echelon can make bank. Getting an education here in the US is a fortune and there is no real promise of a career afterward. We value JUNK that our competition makes for us, and that we make and watch on television (Kardashian's for example). Where are our values? And when did this decline begin? THIS is what I have been studying for a while, and will now put the heat on more because to me, this is the real question.
So D'Souza - thanks for making this film and making an ass out of yourself. Again, I am inspired and inspiration comes in all kinds of funny ways.
The Stray (2012)
Absolutely Horrible
Unintelligent dribble. I cannot believe anyone could make this, then have the balls to put it out there to be seen. So full of script errors and dumb scenarios that it's insulting. It's a good example of what not to do when making a film...stereotypical characters...4x3...bad freeze frames. I seriously thought this may have been shot in 1988. But no, 2012. How does this even get an audience? I know kids who can make a better film. I have to write a few more lines so that IMDb will take this critique (equally dumb, but okay). I can do that. I can keep on writing how much this film sucks. The acting for the most part is bad. But that's probably because the directing was so bad. But then, it goes back to a bad script and a dumb concept. Have I covered everything yet? Probably have said more than enough, but let me count...hold on...oh boy, I have 10 lines! I can now stop saying how inane this horrible film is. I will say, I hope the filmmakers have since learned how to make a watchable film. Or, perhaps they've gone back to their day jobs.