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Here (2024)
More than once I thought, "Is this going anywhere?"
4 stars because the acting and cinematography were good, otherwise 1 star. Many unfulfilled story lines, many characters who were simply cameos to lengthen the movie and/or provide some timeline perspective but added nothing to the overall takeaways.
If the actors weren't so accomplished and famous, would have left after 45 mins.
It was intriguing to see the technology of making both Tom Hanks and Robin Wright look as young as Forrest Gump years.
The best part of this movie is that watching it after the tumultuous election, this was like watching rain fall. Easy and no emotional involvement.
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld (2024)
Terrible casting for an American audience of Jacques
As someone else wrote, I wanted to love this series. The storyline was interesting enough but the casting of Jacques de Bascher misses the mark for an American audience. Someone like a young Marlon Brando, James Dean even Timothee Chalomet -- if he has the acting ability to be so machiavellian, sexy, and cruel.
My understanding of the storyline is that Jacques was so bedazzling that whatever room he entered, he was magnetic and aware of it. He worked it. That's why both Yves & Karl couldn't give him up, he was addictive just by his aura. Hard to see that in Théodore Pellerin, maybe for a French audience he conveys that.
Anyway, interesting to learn something about KL. A sad person because it doesn't seem like he could enjoy the success of others without losing his own self-esteem-- leading him to betrayal and cruelty and loneliness.
The Beautiful Game (2024)
Very Human with fun and pathos
I had not watched the trailers or done any research on this movie, and was wonderfully surprised. The story arc is not radically different than what one might expect, but the actual characters' stories are quite different.
The acting is great and the soccer (football) is fun to watch.
Nowadays, many movies that have some basis of truth to them and this is actually also loosely based on truth. There is a homeless World Cup each year.
At one point the movie seemed a little long because it seems predictable, it's two hours, but as said there are a few surprising plot twist. It certainly held my interest the whole time.
Das Lehrerzimmer (2023)
SPOILER, the ending explained IMO
I give this movie only 8 stars because I think for many people, they did not get the ending--as I see it. And frankly the ending is sort of critical given the "math" theme throughout the film.
Many people have commented that the ending doesn't matter as the movie highlights human nature/racism/etc etc.
The ending does matter as the theme throughout the movie is binary-- good/bad; truth/falsehood; empathy/rule-following, etc. The film writer uses math throughout the movie to make the point because math too, is binary--you either have the right answer or you don't! Here is my take on the ending.
The student comes back to school and won't leave her classroom because (by deduction) he realizes that his mother IS GUILTY. Several indications-- the opening scene when he proves that the .001 difference between .999 and 1.0 is actually irrelevant. They are equal. (he does an equation to show this) In the movie, we have .999 "evidence" of the mother's guilt with the video and opportunity, etc.
Secondly, when the student comes back to school despite being expelled it is because he knows the teacher is actually correct and she is "truth". And we see a tear dropping down his cheek.
Third, when his cell phone is ringing, most likely his mother, he refuses to answer it. We can interpret this as home no longer being his sanctuary. After having zealously defended his mother, now he is ignoring her. Something has changed.
And lastly, he figures out the Rubik cube which again, is math which is binary--right or wrong/ truth or falsehood. The Rubik cube is solved by algorithms, and most likely, metaphorically speaking --the pieces fall into place at home and he realizes his mother did steal the money.
Subplot-- perhaps the mother did not have the money needed for the class trip.
Freud's Last Session (2023)
Wonderful contemplation of both sides --does God exist?
I had anticipated more of a debate or extreme focus on the two men's opposing views, instead the "discussion" is couched amidst other story lines, all relatively true.
Anthony Hopkins is at his best.
This is an intellectual movie, rather than action packed. The filming is beautiful, seems very European and almost old fashioned. Not the camera jumping around so much.
It's a great moment in time, to consider who & what is God, taking place 1939 in London with air raids and flashbacks to WWI-- (albeit a fictional meeting) .
And quite frankly, with all that is going on in the world, it is as relevant now as then.
Americanish (2021)
Perfect antidote to news headlines
Charming, lighthearted with some laugh aloud moments. The characters are both stereotypical and nuanced.
The movie shows the universal humanity of families, cutting across boundaries of race, religion and nationality.
It turns out the house is the home of one of the producers' cousins and many of the costumes come from family and friends. It definitely has the feel of authenticity.
The film deserves my 10 star rating because despite the plot being relatively predictable in places, it still entertains and has its poignant moments. This is really the kind of film that one can watch again --even streaming.
Mother Teresa & Me (2022)
Gives some dimension to the work of Mother Teresa
Overall, a very good movie and reason to go back to the theater!
The filming itself could use editing and there were moments that were contrived, however it touched on serious subjects and did a good job of portraying these issues from many angles. It was not predictable though at times I feared it was going to be.
Though the movie is hardly a documentary, it still serves as a strong vehicle for the conditions that existed in India during the rise of Mother Teresa and even today. And as such, it is very moving and educational. The live action is much more powerful than any still photos could ever convey.
It was provocative in a good way-- we discussed it for quite a while. And it is important to watch the film past all the credits to see some out-takes from the filming and some commentary from the actors and director. The casting found amazing people to play some of the parts, I think many were local people.
Go see this movie, it is a great alternative to all the super-hero and just plain Hollywood-ized stuff being produced in the USA.
Living (2022)
A jewel of a film, moves slowly and is better for it.
This movie is a gem and throwback to cinema before we had camera changes angles/scenes every 2.5 seconds (yes that was the average in 2014 compared to 12 seconds in 1930s, and it's even shorter now)
In Living, the slow character study is about humanity that you as a viewer almost participate in deciding. It is subtle and pitch perfect with brilliant acting-- in all the characters.
I love a lot of modern cinema (yes, there is definitely a place for Top Gun:Maverick) Nevertheless, this film is a terrific counterpoint to the action/animated/sci-fi/horror films that seem to be the only other offerings in theaters this holiday season.
Bill Nighy deserves an Oscar, hands down. Ironically he will probably be pitched against Tom Hanks for A Man Called Otto-- a slight overlap of character type. Hanks is a great actor in some films, in this particular "overlap" Bill Nighy deserves the Oscar without a doubt.
The Fabelmans (2022)
Terrible casting, interesting story
Engaging story of growing up with a passion for seeing the world cinematically. With the feeling of Neil Simon/Woody Allen, the storyline moved along but the casting of two main characters was like cement shoes.
Michelle Williams who can be a real tour de force on the big screen, was simply an unsympathetic and boring character. It was as if she only has a narrow range for acting-- which probably is not true but it was true in this movie. She was flat (too much botox?), unexpressive (except her dialogue) and definitely did not look the part. Rachel Brosnahan (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) or a young Bette Midler would have brought pathos and animation to her role. With the exception of one or two scenes, MW was not even remotely credible.
Similarly, the father was sweet and boring but not nearly obsessive, quirky, distracted or otherwise the "absent minded professor" that he was supposed to be. We only knew about his character again, through the dialogue-- not the acting. However, hard to know if this was the fault of the script or the actor, or both.
Otherwise, the movie was entertaining. Some great cameo roles. There are few laugh-aloud moments and a generally good plot making it more pleasant to see this film rather than all the war/destruction of the world/superhero or other violent movies that seem to dominate the theaters. If Speilberg's name had been kept anonymous, I doubt the reviews would be so glowing.
Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)
I wanted this film to be great
A nonviolent, non-sequel, non-comic book hero and great stars and director. Good story concept. What could go wrong?
Lack of character development (Tilda S) and lack of chemistry (two main stars).
The visuals are wonderful, the storytelling is reminiscent of Arabian Nights stories, and there are little gems of insight-- little lessons. The movie builds and yet ultimately disappoints. This is not a spoiler but rather a comment on the missing "magic" to bring the audience to care or reflect once the film finishes. Tilda is two dimensional and seems so unchanged throughout the movie that it belies the basic premise of her first wish.
It was entertaining but definitely would not recommend to others unless they have very low expectations.
The Gilded Age (2022)
TERRIBLE casting and directing
First of all, the main character Marion Brooks is supposed to be 17/18. I. Real life this actress is 30 and looks it. Why not cast a genuine ingenue like Bridgerton did, and make it more credible?! Louise Jacobson is a pretty girl but she is not a radiant 18 year old carrying the storyline here.
Secondly the dialog is ok but the delivery is very modern. Awful. No subtlety or nuance or modulated voices. OMG where is Maggie Smith when you need her?!
Lastly, the characters thus far are caricatures of their historical referents. The ruthless
mogul, the intractable snobbery, the guileless out-of-towner, etc
Overall, as compelling the sets and costumes, it is fighting against the flat delivery of dialog and predictable plot thus far.
Judy (2019)
Renee, Renee, Renee!!
Movie about Judy Garland's years in her mega-star making role in Wizard the Oz and end of her career. Great juxtaposition, meant to give insight into how the end of her life came to be-- Garland died from an accidental overdose of pills but was essentially living on borrowed time, having "worn out" her body with hard living/addictions/mental health depressions/etc.
Renee sings, not dubbed. Wonderfully complex and Oscar worthy performance by R.
The film is a little long in part because lots of songs --but well worth the slow wait as it deepens the character depiction and her love/hate with the role of being on stage. No amount of knowing the factual details of her life compares to seeing the onscreen magic of her personality-- and evolution.
As one other reviewer wrote, the probably artificial relationship of Judy with two fans was a terrific way to show her spirit, her compassion and her appreciation of her public.
Lastly, from Wikipedia, "After Garland's body had been embalmed by Desmond Henley, Deans traveled with her remains to New York City on June 26, where an estimated 20,000 people lined up to pay their respects at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, which remained open all night long to accommodate the overflowing crowd."
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements (2019)
Lovely documentary
Just saw the movie and afterwards was lucky to hear a Q & A with the filmmaker --who is the mother/narrator. This is a lovely movie giving a more complete picture of what life is like straddling both the hearing and non-hearing world. (the young child gets a cochlear implant --not a spoiler, it's in the trailer)
It is also the story of a young child accomplishing a task (learning the Moonlight Sonata) with his family's support --which could be any child-- and yet the significance that Beethoven wrote this piece when he was deaf is more than symbolic in this film.
The other dimension in the film is the story of the grandparents who live nearby and are central characters too. They were each deaf for over 60 years, but also got cochlear implants (another documentary film, Here and Now) and yet their implants function differently because of their stage in life. Having the implants in early childhood vs. middle aged impacts how the brain processes sound, we learn.
Overall, this is a wonderful film that is both a portrait of a loving family and an exploration of the experience of living with a different relationship to a world that takes sound for granted.
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019)
If you heard her music in its era, you will enjoy this film
I loved this film, as Linda Ronstadt's music is part of my history growing up. It was great to see the vast range of her styles and variety of her many, many hits --something I didn't take note as it is happening amidst all the other factors of growing up.
I would have given this movie 10 stars but it is more of a positive spin with some allusions to the obstacles she faced, rather than a revealing bio-pic. Nothing as telling as the bio-pics of Freddie Mercury or Elton John that are both truly superb pictures because as fans we gained insight into their struggles as well on their way to success.
To be fair, there is some discussion about drugs, sexism and health issues, but it is not critical to the film.
I totally enjoyed the film because it was sort of "greatest hits" of LR, (her actual performances) with famous people commenting and some fun collaborations thrown into the mix. Well done and keeps your interest throughout.
If you like Linda Ronstadt's music, you will enjoy this film!
Tel Aviv on Fire (2018)
Easy watching on a serious subject
A fairly lighthearted but insightful look at life of the middle-class in Jerusalem and Ramallah-- as seen by having a Palestinian screenwriter who lives in Jerusalem travel to work in Ramallah and his daily interactions with the Israeli border-patrol chief..
The film is a little slow, and the main character is made out to be a little too dull, however on the whole the film has a charm and addresses a subject rarely broached. It's an interestingly balanced portrayal of the people on both sides caught in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As characters in this film, both the Israeli soldiers and the Palestinian film makers are more human than political agents, and yet both are rooted in their respective historical contexts making it hard to get to the next level of cooperation with each other. The film plays around with alternate narratives.
The film writer/director is actually an Israeli Palestinian, giving the film much authenticity.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
OH PLEASE.....endless with a great soundtrack
The cinematography, "pretty faces", cameo famous actors and costumes were great. The soundtrack was fabulous if you are old enough to have lived through 60s & 70s music. And the last 15 mins are a good tying together of all the loose plot lines. Otherwise watching corn grow is more interesting.
On top of all that, the movie seemed like it was funded by the tobacco industry, with an overuse of cigarettes --at least one every ten mins. Reminded me of growing up with the ever-attractive Marlboro Man. And then a real kicker at the end that was tongue & cheek of a tobacco ad that was supposed to show....what exactly?
What about social responsibility?!! Sure the cigarette smoking during the movie was true to that time period, however the additional "promotion" during the movie credits was a great opportunity to change the narrative. Instead of saying, "These cigarettes taste like #$%," DiCaprio could have said, "These cigarettes taste so bad for sure they are going to make me really sick." or some such. Or better yet, find another product!
The Farewell (2019)
Pros & Cons
The good news is this is character-driven movie that gives one a sense of a displaced millennial, displaced in many senses of the word. It is informative from a cultural point of view, and the slow pace is both artistic but at times, given our addiction to fast-pacing, annoying. Long camera shots, scenes that last slightly longer than you expect. And yet that all contributes to the credibility of the overall plot. There are nuances in relationships among the characters that are lovely --the two brothers for example. The mother-daughter.
The bad news is this is not great cinematography nor enough humor. Awkwafina delivers a good dramatic persona, but not any lightness. Hard to imagine her as a comedian elsewhere. The plot is a bit overworked and some holes.
Conclusion: interesting insights and worth seeing, just don't believe all the hype before you go. It does give an alternate view of life in China than the glitz one usually sees in the news and travel photos.
Yesterday (2019)
If you love the Beatles
Plot is a little slow and plodding at times, however the music is plentiful and terrific and the overall message is great. Some laugh aloud moments, and overall just a fun, easy movie to leave the theater feeling happy.
Wish Hollywood would have more movies like this!
Science Fair (2018)
Wonderful and inspiring
A wonderful film that gives background on a few candidates for the Intel International Science Fair, and gives hope for mankind!
Some of these extraordinary achieving kids come from family backgrounds and school environments that are so STEM-impoverished, and yet these brilliant minds are able to learn, to create, to invent all for the sake of bettering life on this planet. If only our governments were focused on science and not wars.
The Wife (2017)
interesting to watch but the plot has serious flaws (spoilers!!)
This is the story of the talented ingenue marrying the no-talent professor/author, and their symbiotic but self-destructive relationship over the 40 years of marriage leading up to the Nobel Prize.
Suddenly, the wife is having a self-awakening (perhaps spurred by Christian Slater's intrusion into the story) --and it makes no sense. If she has "suppressed rage" --there were decades she could have rearranged her life.
Similarly, the husband is a caricature of himself-- literally he can't help himself from succumbing to every young pretty girl, even at the rehearsal for receiving the Nobel Prize? And his unnecessary meanness to the son, who in his own right is a bit of an idiot-- ie If you don't want to receive literary criticism from your acclaimed father, don't go into the same profession!
Lastly, at the end of the movie, it shows the wife smoothing a blank piece of paper with I presume, the implication that now she can write freely-- how is that going to happen? Under her own name going forward, it will be apparent that she wrote the other books, or she will have to dumb down her talent. You can't have it both ways.
Altogether, the plot is pointless but the wonderful acting of all the main characters and the gorgeous backdrop of Stockholm, make it not a total waste of time.
Rules Don't Apply (2016)
Better only because it is "lighthearted" amongst other movie offerings
In a sentence, this movie is more enjoyable and seemingly better because everything else in the theaters this Thanksgiving is so dire, emotionally wrenching, violent and/or sci-fi. This is a chic film, and not even a good one. One reviewer said it best, something to the effect that individual scenes work better than the whole movie put together.
Of course, given that it is essentially a rom-com, perhaps I am expecting too much. Which is a shame because really there was great potential to clean it up and go somewhere with this movie. The story is inane, too many subplots that go nowhere, Beatty as Howard Hughes doesn't hold a candle to Leonardo DiCaprio's brilliant portrayal, all the cameos are only distracting, and ultimately the ending is less than satisfying.
I went on Sunday, at 1:00, Thanksgiving weekend, and the theater was empty. Clearly the word is out that this movie isn't worth the money to attend. I concur.
Weiner (2016)
What do we vote for these days?
As a New Yorker who voted in the mayoral election that is depicted in this film.....ahhh, if I had only known better.
Weiner is a politician who had a sex/porn/internet problem and it didn't disappear the minute he was publicly disgraced. Yet, he was an excellent politician, without a doubt a better candidate than the one I voted for. And yet, the story that was most in the news at the time (and shown in this film) was his poor judgement about his personal life, and negligible press about his competency as a champion for the middle class. Furthermore, the timeline of the Sydney Leathers relationship was hardly prominent. I hadn't realized it was over a year earlier. (Albeit better if it had been five years earlier though.)
History is replete with great leaders who had amoral sex lives, not the least Harding who had an illegitimate child shortly before his election as our 29th president. We won't even discuss what happened in JFK's life, and yet the public forgives him.
In no way do I think Weiner should be condoned for acting so inappropriately while being a public servant, but it would also be great if we could focus on POLITICAL competency instead of extramarital sexual blunders. As I see it, when Donald Trump is the GOP nominee with all his sexual improprieties, obviously it's all about the media. And to me, that is the true essence of this documentary. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MEDIA.
My takeaway, although cliché, is that it's the media's storyline, which panders to the readers' lowest common interest -- bringing serious consequences to our politics today.
Jane the Virgin (2014)
On a steady decline across all the dimensions
Have just binged watched over the last couple of weeks, from episode 1 to episode 29 and sadly, as fun as the beginning was--it is on a slow and steady decline. It is clearly a telenovela, and amusing as such. A definite departure from credibility, but fun.
However, by episode 29, Jane is simply an annoying as a character--her lack of common sense (despite the narrator's description otherwise), her naiveté, her stubbornness and self-righteousness --all come together to make her very unappealing. I can't imagine why either Michael or Rafael are in love with her even in suspended reality.
On the other hand, one can see why both Michael and Rafael are interesting and desirable mates. They both have more passion and intensity as characters.
The other characters are simply fun.
Overall, the acting is great, but the script writers need to find some way to make the main character, Jane, charming again. Because right now it's a drag to watch her, and the other characters can't carry the show alone.
I'll See You in My Dreams (2015)
6 stars is being generous
***SPOILER*** This movie is about a self-absorbed, uninteresting, once-upon-a-time great beauty who seems not to have heard of fashion after the year 1990. The gist is that her beloved husband died in a plane crash and she hasn't moved forward since that moment.
She would be a more plausible character if she had been childless, but in fact she has a daughter whom she raised and seems to have done that well. Hence her being so frozen, so dull, so lifeless and just plain two-dimensional just doesn't ring true.
The best scene of the movie are with her dog at the vet and her singing. The rest is simply boring, shallow and often just plain stupid in the scriptwriting. Unfortunately!
Nightcrawler (2014)
Terrible acting, good concept
***SPOILERS*** This could have been truly great because the plot is interesting and sufficiently dark, but Jake G. simply can't pull off the character. (despite the many other reviewers who differ in opinion) This character comes off as clueless, bored, detached. His charming mode is OK, his crazy side is just not credible. (unlike Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook or Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or even Batman) And one cannot even imagine why he wants a love relationship with Rene Russo. It's not business, he has that already. Altogether Jake G doesn't convince me of anything except that he was miscast. And while I normally love Rene Russo's acting, in this case she played tough well, but not vulnerable and desperate. She can--it's in her range, she just didn't carry it in this movie. The assistant was a great character actor. He deserves recognition. Anyway, too bad about the casting of the principals because otherwise the movie was done nicely.