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Back to Black (2024)
Three Stars for the Soundtrack!
Back to Black portrayed Amy Winehouse as a very talented but tortured artist, which she was. But this was overshadowed by characterising her as a self-satbotaging alcoholic junkie who was an arrogant, homophobic, hysterical and violent bully. Now, if the above is all or part true why then not include the context of how she became like that?
Amy's father was painted as a loving, all too tolerant and supportive father...almost saintly! The mother hardly gets a look-in, and the parents' relationship is just not discussed. The beloved grandmother and her death seeme to be a trigger for her unravelling. But if she had have had good enough self-esteem and self-love to begin with, she would not have pursued a relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil or any other bad boy for that matter!
I simply don't buy the Back to Black portrait. There's more to Amy's story than good girl gone wrong over a bad boy!
Civil War (2024)
Disturbing but extremely well executed!
The entire cast of Civil War are exceptional especially Dunst, Spaeny, McKinley Henderson and Moura.
Some scenes and characters are definitely disturbing but necessary to illustrate what may happen in an American Civil War (or in any country for that matter) should the underlying tensions of inequality boil over.
There was not a spare scene in the movie, every second counted, and for such a violent film I bizarrely I didn't want it to end. The subtext speaks to how alienating all types of inequality are corrosive and can lead to extreme violence.
Civil War is a very clever and sophisticated watch.
I hope there'll be a Civil War sequel or prequel or both!
Monkey Man (2024)
Creativly genius!
I specifically went to see Monkey Man because it is Dev Patel's directorial debut.
I am not a fan of gratuitously violent action packed thrillers but I absolutely loved Monkey Man; the violence was justified as the context was a tale of revenge built on the sturdy bones of morality, ethics and equality.
I don't want to give away the plot, but there were some characters and scenes that were totally unexpected and used in a very clever non-stereotypical and mature way.
The film felt fresh, gripping and amazingly creative. I would give Monkey Man 12 out of 10 stars if I could. I look forward to seeing what Dev Patel will direct over the next five years.
Swede Caroline (2024)
No one laughed!
Swede Caroline is the world's biggest turnip!
It is a very amateurish affair just a cut above fart jokes. And no one in the audience laughed beyond a mild chuckle, which were few and far between.
The hightlight of the movie was the John Cooper Clark track towards the end of film, which was cleverly written and delivered, and it garnered the most laughs from the audience. The rest of the soundtrack was good too.
In part, I grew up on a working farm and had my own allotment for many years, and I've had better laughs digging in the drenching rain on a Sunday afternoon.
Part of the draw to see watch this steaming heap of compost was the cast, but they were severely restricted by their poorly defined characters and poor script.
La passion de Dodin Bouffant (2023)
A Sensual Feast!
I can hardly find the words to describe the film or why I loved it so much! One of many ways I judge a movie is if I am tempted look at my watch - this only happens when I find what I am viewing is not very engaging! I never thought about the time not even once during The Taste of Things.
While, I am very conscious of how the upper classes can be avariciousness, gluttonness, reluctant to share their spoils, and have other human beings in their servitude to satisfy their every whim...while this film depicts aspects of all of the above it really isn't about any of these. It is a beautiful love story and profound grief that uses cusine to pirtray the deep connection between two human beings irrespective of the context. In fact, it is about the love and respect thst the Juliette Binoche character Eugénie garners from all those who encounter her.
Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel are a triumph in their lead roles. The very talented Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire as Pauline, I predict will be a superstar in French cinema at the very least.
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
I went to see it twice!
I very nearly didn't go to see Bob Marley: One Love because I'd read the two star review by Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian. And while I cannot disagree with Bradshaw's arguments he is completely wrong to give it anything less than four stars! There are some things he completely fails to understand; how on earth can a biopic cover the entirety of Bob Marley life story and journey to superstardom in such depth in such a tight timeframe?
This music biopic is the best of it's genre I have ever seen. It was deeply moving, funny, inspiring, and it had me bobbing in my seat! If you like Marley's music go and see it and judge for yourself!
All that remains for me to say is that I am thinking of going to see Bob Marley: One Love for a third time! And I look forward to it owing it on disc.
Wicked Little Letters (2023)
Plays into Irish Stereotype!
I would have given Wicked Little Lies eight stars had I not researched the true story after watching the film. Rose Gooding was not Irish but from Lewes, Sussex, England. There is absolutely no value in making Godding Irish...it is offensive as it plays into an Irish stereotype. As an Irish man I can only assume that Jonny Sweet, the writer, and Thea Sharrock, the Director, hold some very deep seated anti-Irish beliefs. I will not be viewing or reading anything they produce ever again because they have absolutely no cultural sensitivity.
Having said that, the film had a stellar cast, and I laughed as much as I gasped. But I felt very uncomfortable and ashamed that Rose Gooding was Irish...which I now know she wasn't!!! Shame on Sweet and Sharrock!
Farmhouse Fixer (2021)
The New Kid On The Block!!!
I love Maine Cabin Masters, New Town, and Fixer Upper but the New Kid On The Block 'Farmhouse Fixer' is something special! Jonathan Knight is what makes the show so amazing. He is warm, funny, passionate, and supremely experienced in farmhouse renovation. Obviously, he is renovating farmhouses for those that can afford both the house and the fee. And I don't always agree with removing antique features, but Jonathan and his team do an amazing renovation with TLC on these farmhouses. The interior design I don't always like either, but it's not my farmhouse and the owners seem to love the overall transformation! I hope we se see a second season soon!!! I'm addicted!
The First Monday in May (2016)
Cultural Dinosaurs!
The question is, is fashion art? No it is not, while some fashion is undoubtedly beautiful, rich in motif and symbolism and the result of genius creative imagination, fashion is toxic and art is not! The fashion industry is the third most toxic industry on the planet polluting the earth. Fashion is also responsible for child labour, cheap labour and poor working conditions in developing countries. Not forgetting how fashion influences a negative body image and anorexia and bulimia.
Speaking of toxic, Anna Wintour comes across as arrogant, hyper critical, and extremely undermining of those around her. The devil does indeed wear Prada!
She really does not like to be challenged by anyone as her ego cannot tolerate it. She reduces the critical thinking of others to them not getting it, like they are dumb!
Andrew Bolton argued with Wong Kar-wai, an acclaimed Hong Kong Chinese filmmaker, about placing a statue of Chairman Mao in with a Buddhist display! Bolton couldn't seem to understand how inappropriate, offensive and culturally insensitive this would be!
Baz Luhrmann asks 'how Chineseesy' Wintour wants a display to be!!! Good grief!
And disgraced John Galliano features a lot in the documentry. It was culturally insensitive to have a rabid anti-semtie feature so prominently, and he is not particularly articulate either!
I also question if the big deal they made of Rihanna's performance fee was meant to shame her publicly. A black Barbadian woman at the top of her game in the music, beauty and fashion industries.
If you want to learn how not to be culturally insensitive then watch this documentary, and do the opposite of Wintour, Bolton and Luhrmann!
I am a white Irish man who has taught 'Difference and Diversity' to postgraduate students for over two decades.
Hello, Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea (2019)
A Short BUT Important Documentary
I am educated and conversant in social justice issues such as Racism, White Privilege, Voter Suppression, Cultural Difference and Divesrty, Economic Slavery, and the Use and Abuse of Power, and in this short piece I was deeply moved by the stories of Black people having to live and die under a racist regime.
What I would give no stars to is all the ignorant racists giving negative reviews of this touching and educational documentary. You have no heart, Soul or consciousness if you do not accept racism and while privilege not only exist but that also KILL!
*Loosely Exactly Nicole (2016)
Best TV Comedy since Roseanne
I cannot watch '2 Broke Girls' 'New Girl' 'The Mind Project' etc etc etc. This is real comedy breaking all stereotypes, except for the Gay character who is a phallocentric mincer but is still great to watch. I love 'The Big Bang Theory' but this is so FRESH! It's the 'Roseanne' of its generation. Yes there are a few moments that are culturally uncomfortable and highly risky but even these moments are much more creative than the usual bland flotsam that passes for comedy on our boxes. Nicole Byer is a great talent. She plays the main character perfectly. I imagine she will become a major talent. Some comments, reviews and critic reviews are so negative. Which I don't understand as this is much better than most stuff on the TV today.
Married at First Sight UK (2015)
Just awful!
This is reality television at its worst...complete trash! It's hard to believe that trained professionals from the world of psychology would participate in this rubbish...thankfully none of them are trained psychotherapists although one of them claims she is but doesn't actually have the qualification to back it up! This show makes a complete mockery of marriage and of all the very necessary developmental stages of relationship. I also have to wonder what these so-called couples are getting out of this - lots of attention for sure - their behaviour seems much more on the borderline spectrum and deeply emotionally immature and insecure. This really is nothing more than a sad joke, but the joke is on those poor couples and their families who have unwittingly exposed themselves to the public!
Enlightened (2011)
This TV series is GOLD DUST!
I cannot believe that only 0.123% of the American population watched this excellent TV series while 5900000 regularly tune into mind numbing bull like the X Factor!
Sure the main character Amy is annoying at times with her kookiness but she is brilliantly portrayed by Laura Dern, no wonder she won a Golden Globe for the role and the rest of the cast are just excellent. Mike White, who plays Tyler and wrote the series, is a genius writer and actor. It's such a shame it wasn't picked up for a 3rd season. NETFLIX or Amazon should run with this.
Wake-up America!
The Sea of Trees (2015)
A Meditation on Relationships, Life, Date and Afterlife
I am rather surprised that The Sea of Trees was booed at Cannes mostly because it is a very good movie but also because of the adolescent behaviour of the audience!
The film has everything in it that American cinema goers don't want to see such as suicide, cancer, illness, a high functioning alcoholic, an RTA, and the ugly side of marriage! I suspect the Cannes audience found it too close to home, a painful mirror if you will.
The film is a meditation on relationship, life, death and afterlife. It has a lot of unsettling themes that sooner or later we are all confronted with... Cannes and the general public are obviously just not ready for this. Gus van Sant has not disappointed this viewer. Excellent!