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Reviews
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Ran out of fanny
Before they ran out of film. Plus we watched it at home as there was no way I could make it in a theater. We both read and enjoyed the book but the director took a page turner and managed to turn it into a long, boring and repetitive slog. Lily Gladstone is wonderful as Molly and any time she is on the screen the movie is worth watching but the rest of the time you have to put up with DiCaprio with his face in an almost permanent frown which became funny after awhile and DeNiro droning on and on basically saying the same thing over and over.. What happened to the Osage people was ghastly but after awhile we were hoping the film would pick up the pace. Read the book.
Dead Ringer (1963)
The one and only Betty Davis
I am a fan of Betty Davis and somehow I missed seeing this movie. Watched it yesterday and as usual you can't go wrong with this actor. The plot is fairly straightforward. Two twin sisters, one rich , the other just getting by and years ago the rich one stole the other's fiancé and there is a ton of resentment. The sisters haven't seen each other in years and are reunited at the funeral of the rich one's husband. Poor sis murders rich one, takes her place and then the fun begins. It is not going to be easy being someone else. Things like safe combinations, signatures, religious ceremonies and a sleazy boy friend of her now dead sister make her new life extremely difficult. Just watching Davis's face as she silently reacts to various events throughout the movie is marvelous . Peter Lawford and Carl Malden round out the cast. Well worth your time.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023)
As slow as the second coming
All men bad, all women good. There you have it but more characters are required. So here goes. Alice spends her formative years in a battered women's shelter but learns absolutely nothing. When a choice between two men presents itself she chooses the bad boy. Apparently if you commit murder in Australia no investigation will come near you as long as the victim is an abusing man and you are the leader of a women's shelter. Oh and make sure you make a notch on a particular tree after the murder. There are several notches on that tree. All men are master manipulators but they are all amateurs when compared to Sigourney Weaver's character but it is all done for the greater good of the community so all is eventually forgiven after the obligatory screaming and shouting. The photography is excellent though.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
It's a good summer flick
I read the book and the movie follows it as best it can without it being four hours long. A previous viewer used the term "Halmarkian" and that is spot on. Kya is always perfect looking with straight brushed hair and excellent makeup and one thing about the marsh that I didn't know is, nobody sweats. No one bead of it any where. Amazing. The movie is good summer flick.
The Terminal List (2022)
Bologna Sandwich
I managed one and one half episodes of the literally dark tale and gave up. These assassins can't seem to obtain a good sniper rifle with a scope and take care of business. But then the series would be over.
Tehran (2020)
Dumb decisions
If Tamar is a top drawer agent for the Mossad then they are in trouble. She makes stupid decisions that endanger not only herself but others. Her Iranian handler isn't much better. He drives around with a huge emblem on the door of his car and is totally unaware of his surroundings. Every agent in Iran is looking for Tamar so she decided to go to a rave party. Good thinking there. The road block scene when Tamar is in the back seat finally did it for me. Talk about stupid and unaware of where you are. Ridiculous.
Outer Range (2022)
Nonsense in the dark
Managed to suffer thru 4 1/2 episodes before calling it quits. Darkness abounds in most the scenes, the characters make nonsensical decisions and all of it done at a snail's pace. Would rather watch rust form on a chrome bumper.
The Bill (1984)
What's with the camera
Constantly moving, flicking back and forth from actor to actor, sentence to sentence and most of it close up. It is distracting. Lasted 20 minutes and gave up.
Servant (2019)
No more
After "The Village" and "The Happening ", I swore I would never watch anything directed by M. Night Shyamalan but stupid me after the first two episodes I thought this time it would be different. But no. It's the same boring, stupid crap that goes no where at the speed of glue , coupled with wooden acting and plot holes you could drive a truck thru and there you have it. Another incomprehensible mess by Shyamalan.
The Rookie: Hit and Run (2021)
Got any aspirin
We like the show but couldn't get beyond the ten minute mark due to the body cam shots and the quick cut camera and dialogue work. Hope this was a one off.
The Long Call (2021)
Tired and boring
It hits all the woke requirements as it plods along. Then they went out of their way to cast a boring lead and coupled him with an assistant who sounds like she has a mouth full of marbles
almost every time she speaks. I love the Vera shows but this thing is one sorry mess.
The Thick of It (2005)
But a tripod
Tried to watch this and maybe it's a great program but could not get past the avant-garde, new wave, what ever trendy phrase would be appropriate for the zoom out zoom in wander about camera work. Very annoying and distracting.
American Rust (2021)
Dull and boring
First there was Mare of Easttown and now American Rust. There must be a trilogy in the works and the third one might be titled Paint drying in Pittsburg filled with more miserable, unlikable people. I just can't wait. Not.
The Undoing (2020)
Ridiculous
People that are in the social strata depicted here do not talk to the police at any time. Their lawyers do the talking for them. But here's Nicole flapping her gums at the drop of a hat. Also they do not socialize with hoi paloi. Sure they will sponsor a scholarship but that's as far as it goes. No health clubs and no parties. What bologna
Calvary (2014)
And the point is ?
Except for Brendan Gleeson who portrays a tired but patient priest, the movie is filled with nasty obnoxious people. Sat through this mess waiting for I don't know what. A total waste of time.
The Outsider (2020)
Slightly faster than a glacier
After episode three it is right up there with trying watch paint dry in a dim room and this thing will finish in March. I have given up on it.
Another Life (2019)
Plan 9 From Outer Space is better
This popped up on my Netflix app and without reading any reviews ( my fault) I decided why not? After all, it has Katee Sackhoff in it, what could go wrong ? A lot obviously. Managed to suffer for 35 minutes and that was it. Everything is very PC, coupled with a crew that couldn't organize a two car funeral and the acting is abysmal. Another waste of time and effort by Netflix. Watch Plan 9 from Outer Space.
Midsommar (2019)
So Bad it Hurts
Four very stupid people journey to Sweden and wind up in the midst of a death cult and after witnessing a horrific act decide to stay with this bunch and to remain totally clueless throughout the rest of this two hour and ten minute mess. Plot holes abound, people stare off into space without any explanation, plus idiotic screaming and moaning. You know something is wrong when supposedly dramatic scenes are greeted with laughter from the audience. After a time the whole thing becomes very predictable and boring. Gives this one pass, stay home and watch the grass grow. You will have more fun.
Tidelands (2018)
Absolute, unadulterated, bull
This mess starts out with an interesting idea and quickly descends to a badly acted, over wrought soap opera with betrayal after betrayal, too many subplots and the usual gratuitous sex and violence. We found ourselves wondering what was the point of it all as it had veered off into so many directions. We couldn't make past episode four.
First Man (2018)
Shake and rattle
Shake the camera and make loud noises repeat and we are flying. No we are not. Test aircraft do not sound like a worn out washing machine on spin cycle with a bucket of bolts inside the drum. Space capsules are almost surgically clean and do not have filthy panels and switches. So much for technical gripes and there were several more. On the human side: Test pilots are some of the most positive and aggressive folks on the planet not the morose, depressing individuals portrayed here. Foyle acts irritated about everything. I was willing to give this movie the benefit of the doubt but I should have paid attention to the users reviews and stayed home.