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Reviews
The Loft (2014)
A Smooth Who-Dun-It
Lift your expectations, The Loft is a far better movie than you may first think.
This is a real actors piece, no real action sequences etc to get distracted by, just some good dialogue and some equally good acting.
James Mardsen is the pick of the bunch here. His intense moments carry great levels of authenticity and passion.
Beyond that though the remaining key members of the cast are all satisfyingly strong and help take the movie up those higher levels I was talking about.
Its a simple drama that may get lost amongst the 27 Fast & Furious movies but it shouldn't. Its a good movie that deserves being given a look at :)
Bad Lieutenant (1992)
He Really Is Pretty Bad
Bad Lieutenant is the kind of movie that comes along every now and then that feels like its an actors acting movie.
I can't imagine a lot of big name actors would have the courage to take on such a role. Harvey Keitel makes it his own with a fantastic performance.
There is a plot but its pretty thin, the movie is really just a day in the life of a broken cop, his abuses of himself and others as he makes his way through the days.
Its not a shy film which is really its strength, he is a worts and all character and the film explores all his vices and failings.
Its an intense movie that really grabs your focus, which makes it a lot of fun to watch :)
High Life (2009)
Not So High
The film does have some moments.
Just not enough to string together to make a fully enjoyable movie.
Almost all of the highlights belong to Timothy Olyphant who is launching his career long charm offensive.
Beyond that, its really a nothing movie full of characters you could easily live without ever meeting.
As a result the movie is just as frustrating as it is funny. Mediocre springs to mind when thinking about High Life.
All the other aspects of the film are pretty run of the mill, it looks ok, it sounds ok and is thankfully short.
See it for Olyphant only otherwise give it a wide berth :)
The Iron Claw (2023)
Zac Efron Great
Where coaching meets child abuse?
The Iron Claw is an interesting insight into one of the most famous sporting families and their road to destruction.
What happens in the ring is mostly irrelevant to the story, the story is about attitudes, beliefs and family.
For the main part, in my opinion, this family had some serious issues and the consequences were significant. A dominating father with a 'nothing to see here' mother raised their chidren in an uncompromising, apparently, belittling way striving to capture the glory and recognition that had eluded them. The results going way past unfortunate.
Thankfully revelations at the end of the movie about how it all turned out provide at least some reprieve :)
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
More Nothingness From The MCU
Well as we have I think all observed the MCU well is running a little dry, too many movies and not enough of them are particularly special.
Kang is easily the standout character in Quantumania adding the only dramatic scenes really worth watching.
Its more special effects that aren't very special, crappy dialogue and an abundance of moments that no one watching the movie would really care about.
I enjoy Paul Rudd but I sincerely hope that we are not presented with another entry in this part of the MCU. This is very much a 'why bother', there are plenty of better movies out there to enjoy :)
Shock and Awe (2017)
Give Me Another 30 Minutes Please
A pretty good film that is suprisingly short. This means that the story progresses nice and quickly but leaves the movie lacking a little extra depth that I think would have helped its ranking significantly.
The acting is well above average but not unexpected when you look at the cast.
The love interest of the movie is a little unnessecary and probably wasted some of the limited minutes the movie had to work with.
Tommy Lee Jones was compelling but also not given a lot to work with.
Regardless of the movie you have to respect their dedication to following the story and trying to present the truth :)
Runaway Jury (2003)
You Can See What's Coming But Its Still Good
Runaway Jury is an enjoyable movie but for a John Grisham feature it lacks some of the punch of his other works.
The story is a little weak and even the tense scenes fall short of actual tension. Perhaps more of a heart pounding score when appropriate may have supported the on screen action better.
From an acting point of view Gene Hackman owns every single moment he is on the screen. Where as at the other end of the equation John Cusack dribbled his way through the movie without really grabbing your attention.
Totally worth checking out, particularly if you are a fan of court room dramas :)
The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Funny But Dated...Classic?
I loved this movie as a kid. Thankfully I had a relaxed home video guy who let me get pretty much what ever I wanted...good times. So it was a lot of fun way back when.
Since then I had watched it about half a dozen times and had always enjoyed it.
Last night I re watched it for the first time in probably 20 years and I although I still laughed and remembered all the key moments, the movie had lost some of its shine.
Would I recommend the movie to a new audience, selectively yes but generally probably not. If you are into nutty films (and I am) then get in your car and run over as many kids as possible on the way to your closing down video store :)
Fast X (2023)
The Fastest Thing In The Movie Is How Fast It Was Horrible
Trivia: Did you know when watching this movie my family said 'this movie is crap' 118 times!
Fast X provides the strange experience of watching 2 graphs colide...but who would have thought the other line in the graph would be Poilice Academy???
I've been off the series for a number of entries now as I tired of watching the chick who makes sandwiches kick the butts of trained millitary and so on. But like the rest of you suckers who are still watching these films, I am a bit of a completionist. That only means I'll be stuck watching the next one as well, which I'm sure I could review before watching it.
If you don't have a compulsion then don't watch it :)
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Long But Entertaining
A strong brooding film that gets better and better as it glides across the screen.
A fantastic cast led by one of the great directors deliver a captivating story. It lacks the flamboyance of some similar films, no power speeches here, but keeps your full attention right to the closing credits.
I can't sit here and justify the length of the movie, it probably didn't need to be this long, yet at the same time I wasn't sitting there wishing it would hurry up and finish.
Beautifully shot with a set design that really captures the era, it is a great looking film.
Not Scorsese's best but very enjoyable :)
Sisu (2022)
Your Approach To Watching This Will Determine Your Level Of Joy
Quirky is an understatement.
I spent a bit of time deliberating of this one. Did I like it, yes or no, was it any good yes or no?
In the end I fell on the positive side to the scales.
I was entertained (eventually) which I guess it the aim of the game.
It took a while to get there though.
I ws taking the film a little too seriously at first so I was finding the movie frustrating, once I changed my approach to the movie and took it for the absurdity that it is then I started to enjoy it.
So the first half of the movie is a bit of a dud but the second half I felt was much better and had some slightly classic scenes :)
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973)
I Liked This A Lot
Trawling back in time to discover some old movies, as I love to do, I came across The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing. I had no knowledge of the movie but was draw to Burt Reynolds whom I generally (but not always) like.
As a fan of westerns I literally wasn't expecting too much because I had never heard of it, so I figured that it must be a bit of a B movie.
Far from it. TMWLCD is a first class movie in all facets. Great story, scenic, beautifully shot and with strong characters throughout.
The reason I didn't rate it higher was I felt like it could have benefitted from a bit more action (there is plenty of good drama here). Aside from that it was an enjoyable film :)
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018)
Hitler, Bigfoot And The Abominal Movie
This movie is an abomination plain and simple.
For a movie a little over an hour and a half, it is painfully slow where you feel like you are watching drool come straight off the screen as the movie has gone slackjaw.
It is such a waste of Sam Elliot it borders on criminal.
The film whilst trying to delve into the thoughts and consideration or regrets falls into the most ridiculous premise I think I may have ever had the displeasure to witness. Really, we are going to somehow link Hitler and Bigfoot (foot note, Bigfoot was tiny in this).
I wish I could have my time over again and make a better life choice to not watch this film :)
Antlers (2021)
Sequel Could Be Antlers Vs Cocaine Bear?
Aren't surprises just the best? Another great example of me having super low expectations for a movie only to come away with a really pleasant outcome.
Antlers isn't earth shattering but it is a pretty solid 'horror' even though its not actually scary.
I think the involvement, unbeknownst to me before watching, of GDT and David Goyer we big reason for the results. I am a huge fan of their works.
The movie carries a nice tension throughout which is what helps keep the movie above average. The story is ok even though it borrows from a plethora of previous films.
The acting is well above average for films of this ilk so its a solid well done to all :)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Epic Maxless Madness
One of the great movies.
The use of colour and especially sound in this movie is stunning. If you pay attention you will be completely captivated by the use of the soundtrack alone.
The story is wonderful. It fleshes out the Mad Max universe adding a richness and depth I didnt know I was missing.
Its full of action and story creating an outstanding cinema outcomes.
The acting, particularly the two leads, is first class and the movie is filled to the brim with rich bombastic characters.
This movie wins on absolutely every level and Im calling it early, this is the film of the year, no doubt :)
Land of the Lost (2009)
Lots Of Hidden Treasures
So firstly lets just forget that Matt Lauer is in this movie. He was sleazy then and is sleazy now.
Land of the Lost has been enjoyed by me and my family a few times and it still continues to make us all laugh. Its stupid funny not clever funny but funny is what funny is.
Aside from the humour the film also captures the essence and charm of old school adventure movies. Its like going back in time to Journey to the Centre of the Earth with a bag of sex jokes. It makes for an interesting combination.
Its silly fun, well made and is an easy way to drift through a lazy, quiet Sunday afternoon :)
Semi-Pro (2008)
Makes The Occassional Basket
Its Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell. Will is mostly hit and miss within his movies but he always seems to deliver an impassioned performance that makes you forget the movies flaws. This is again the case with Semi-Pro.
Its a sometimes funny movie and just as often not funny but it has enough charm to keep you watching.
Semi-Pro is also filled with what can mostly be described as Will's mates or the SNL team. They do pretty much add value to the film and help lift it when it needs it.
Semi-Pro wasn't going to be an award winner nor will it be remembered as a classic. It is still pretty good fun :)
Wilson (2017)
Woody Wows
Woody makes this movie an 8!
If you have ever read any of my reviews (and I'm sure you haven't lol) you would know how highly I rate Woody. So the outcome of this movie was no great surprise. Its a good movie that Woody makes great.
Hi performance is so honest. All you see is the character. Its not like you see the character and underneath you can still see the mega star Woody, you just have the character.
The story is filled with the rollercoaster emotions of sorrow and hope and they take you for quite a ride.
At times you find his character pathetic and suddenly you don't aaaaand then you do again.
I can't think of a reason why a considered movie fan wouldn't enjoy Wilson :)
Fracture (2007)
Poor Title, Great Movie
Fracture is a nice blend of film making. It has both a good story and a first class cast (try saying that fast!) but it doesn't fall on either one making for a strong combination on screen.
Hopkins is in his element here delivering the kind of performance you would expect yet it never feels like he is just dialling it in. The rest of the cast also seem well invested in making a good movie. Rosamund Pike is particularly good.
The drama is engaging and the emotions of the characters really sweep you up in their individual stories.
I was hooked into Fracture the whole way through never checking the watch to see how long was left, its a dramatic entertainer that is well worth giving your time to :)
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
I'm Batdude
What a ripper of a movie. The voicing of this character may well be the finest example of the artform I have ever enjoyed. It would have been so easy for this film to miss but the Batman performance guaranteed its success.
The film is beautiful to look at, as all the Lego movies have been and the audio is used to great impact. The plot is not super detailed, as you would expect, so all the joy comes out of the interactions that revolve around Batman.
Lego Batman is very funny and should provide a lot of fun for children and adults alike. Some of the throwback jokes are quite clever and I smiled my way from start to finish :)
The Baker (2022)
He Also Cooks...I Mean Bakes
If you think the story line is familiar, winner winner chicken dinner.
Its another in a long long long line of 'who is this guy' movies.
So, its nothing new. But, that's ok. What really matters here is 'do the performances hold your attention'? Yes they do. Extra large Ronnie is awesome in this, yes he's playing the same role (Hellboy aside) that he always plays and he does it with a nice undercurrent of humour and not taking himself too seriously.
Elias is solid if not under used and Harvey K delivers exactly what you think he is going to do. Still its nice to see him on screen.
The movie (see for yourself) does miss the opportunity for a classic screen moment towards the end but such is life.
Watch the credits.
Nice effort :)
Dark Waters (2019)
Movie Great Company Crappy
This movie gave me mixed emotions. I got frustrated with the company, the townsfolk, arghh, such a win lose scenario.
The film is brilliant and the Hulk should be very proud.
The actual events are horrific.
Dupont acted appallingly but so did the townsfolk when judging those who were fighting the company because it threatened their livelihoods, especially the later scene in the church. These people were fighting for your (and their) lives not some wages.
Its visually bleak, which supports the story, you can feel the struggle being had.
To the actual lawyer who took this on...bravo, such a fighter :)
The Fall Guy (2024)
Its A Little Too Pleased With Itself
The Fall Guy has too many inside jokes and is way to happy with its own existance. It feels like the happiness of the audience was secondary.
Barbie managed to pull of an exceptional film using similar tools, whereas The Fall Guys falls a long way short.
The leads put on a charm offensive but all laughs are over simplified bordering on stupid.
An example of the in jokes, is the use of the sound effect of the Bionic Man in one scene, who was played by Lee Majors who played'The' Fall Guy in the tv show. How many audience members, for this demographic, would make that link. I was 6 when the Bionic Man was on tv?
Too try hard which was a shame :)
Mob Land (2023)
Funding My Retirement Movie
The cast of Mob Land is given very little to work with in this title.
Travolta, Dorff and Dillon are all essentially wasted in this barely average effort.
The basic premise of the film is valid but it has the depth of a kiddies wading pool. The fact that this movie was shot in eleven days is evidence of how the film was slapped together and was nothing more than a cash grab for the main cast.
Dorff delivers the most but even then it looks dialed in as its very reminiscent of twenty other Dorff movies.
Its not a disaster of a film but it is a waste, watch it on a plane or train when all the better options have been exhausted :)
Sully (2016)
Make It Bigger And Better And Another 30 Mins Longer
Way to suck the life out of a movie. Clint Eastwood is one of the best directors and Tom Hanks is an elite actor but they both miss the mark of greatness in this movie.
Sure its good. They could both do 'good' in their sleep. I was expecting brilliant. Something with on screen tension and drama to match the real life story.
The story is, as we know, incredible, so why isn't the movie?
It looks great, sounds great and IS interesting, it just doesn't have any moments or great theatrical heights. I know not every movie can 'handle the truth' but I would have thought this movie with its courtroom (inquiry) drama would have had a little more sizzle :)