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Reviews
The Dinner (2017)
The Biggest WTF
I think the story was a great premise. It could have been an interesting movie with great actors and a tragic conflict. But... no... so much focused on one man's negativity, obsession, whining and the Civil War and that was all distracting from the story.
The premise of parents meeting to discuss their children's actions was elongated, dull & the meal headings... I don't know what that was all about (just waiting for the intellectuals to tell me how obtuse I am for missing the implications)
The arguments between the parents as to how to handle the situation was interesting and important. That's when the movie got good... for maybe 45 minutes. They completely ignore that at least one of the kids is a sociopath in need of serious help and that another was powerless and vindictive. Then let's add on the one characters obsession with Gettysburg. What a mess with too much happening with no real connections (except those that intellectuals might debate over cognac).
And do not even get me started on the ending! I replayed it twice to see what I missed... this is a story untold, I don't know if the director was trying to be cryptic, philosophical or just became too confused by all the entanglements; or if the writer not knowing what to do just quit.
The actors are all impeccable, as expected, but they couldn't save this misdirected story. It could have been great. But wasn't.
All My Children (1970)
I miss AMC
I remember watching with my mom, and in college actually scheduling classes around this and GH. Oh Erica, Adam, Tina, the Woleks. I wish they'd rerelease this, I know I'd watch start to finish. So many memories tied up to this soap opera. How I loved it.... Remember Judith Light on this?!? Wow! The sets, the incredibly unbelievable stories and the evolution of Erica Kane. I used to love to see the costumes, the hair, the set designs. AMC was just a delicious afternoon snack; one I'd love to revisit. Do you remember Vicki & Joe? I do! He was gorgeous and kind. She never did better. Great soap, one I grew up with & would love to rewatch.
Rudderless (2014)
Brilliant. But,
This movie is beautifully heart wrenching. Crudup's portrayal of the dad is incredible. He taps into sorrow, guilt, & avoidance so compellingly & understandably that it is both worthy of sympathy but also of frustration. Felicity Huffman's performance as mom is a totally different, albeit a more direct and healthful way to deal...or is it? Having another baby in the shadows of this event, I couldn't relate to, but I dont think I would be like her character at all. Who knows?
Anton Yelchin, forever and always incredible, played perfectly the young man who both created a connection between Sam & his son, but also a fresh connection between him & Sam. & Sam reveled in it. He saw himself with his son. It's complicated and beautiful.
I love this movie so much, but I do have a few quibbles. I don't believe that Josh could write such beautiful and sensitive music and then do what he did. It's so contradictory & a dissonance of character. It's clear he was unhappy and angry but seriously dude, you're in college, not high school. Maybe more parental control & influence was implied that I didn't see, but I've seen this now like 20x. Maybe more of a preface would have explained this.
The the Selena Gomez character, she started so sweet and then collapsed into such a vengeful, insensitive character. Hello, you lost a boyfriend, this man lost his son. I think you're not on parallel trajectories; but who knows what goes on in people's heads. But that arc didn't seem authentic to me.
Acting is first rate, across the board. Sets, location, casting is perfection. The story itself had some holes, but wow!! What a great story. 100% watch!!
Judy (2019)
Wonderful Portrayal& Story
I LOVE this movie. Renee Zellweger is phenomenal! I mean I've liked her in all her roles but THIS. She is Judy. I would watch this movie 1000x for the scenes where she goes out with her fans, and has eggs. It's tragic what they've lived through and she understands and is open. I fell in love w/ her again... I know that was Judy.
I haven't compared the film to historical fact, I'm guessing it's a broad brush but rooted in reality.
It's tragic, and sad what this woman went through...but it's so poignant, meaningful and I think honest. People used her throughout her life, and all this poor person wanted was some normalcy, some real love, and a sprinkle of glitter. She was so vulnerable and so many men took advantage of her. It's pathetic and disgusting. She was a victim, an indentured servant who was so psychologically beaten down that she lost herself. Or did she? She kept that rebellious spirit, but the media didn't want to acknowledge that. What a sick machine.
I love this film, and Judy Garland.
And Just Like That... (2021)
It gets better, not great but better
I found Season 1 pretty insufferable, but out of loyalty to the characters I decided to see it through. It's kind of fitting that Big dies so early on, even in the originals it was less about Big and more about how Carrie felt about Big. They weren't ever truly believable as a couple IMHO, but she was so addicted.
Season 1 is terrible. Just terrible. It's like these women were put into a time capsule at the end of the original series and then dropped out of the sky into 2022. And the writing was just so bad...they are so disconnected from modern realities. Remember that these women were smart, sexually awakened, and so cutting edge in so many levels. And it's not like they dashed of to the suburbs and became Betty Crocker... so HOW are they so unaware? Charlotte comes across as a woman-child, totally tone deaf and frankly silly. They just do Miranda so so badly in Season 1 that I cannot believe that the very talented Cynthia Nixon did this. I get that the storyline was to better represent the challenges that a woman in that experience might face, BUT her character seems so completely lost and insecure... there is barely any MH in her anymore (but at the end of season 2, she really does start to come back). I think she could have been written so much better. Carrie wasn't written so badly... she's actually a much better friend in this series than she ever was in the original series. Despite her own grief, she does actually listen to others and tries to offer Sage advice . Her wealth is an overriding theme... but ok, everyone in Sex in the City was so "fabulous" that they have to be here too... except for Miranda.
The introduction of all new characters is almost completely an effort to incorporate different races and cultures into the show. They are all interesting characters, with the exception of Che. I don't think anyone likes her in the show... the actress is fine but oh, the role, the writing! Ok I get it, we love Steve for Miranda and if she was going to leave Steve, why did she 1) have to choose such an unlikeable character and 2) run off to LA leaving EVERYTHING in her life behind. She's not 22, for goodness sake. But maybe she's trying to recapture that. It's so badly written that you have to infer that. Alcoholism, lesbian, regression, fear of aging :she's got a lot happening.
By Season 2, some footings seem to be fine, after a while. Charlotte remains a caricature until the last few episodes, but then you can see a glimmer of the strong woman I believe she should have been all along.
Carrie is ok in this... at times a voice of reason, at times finding herself again. By the end of the 2nd season they aren't as much force feeding us every modern societal issue and term.
But what bothered me in the last episode: Nya gets the promotion of her life, her career takes a huge win and yet when she tells Miranda about it, this major milestone is overshadowed by the fact she doesn't have a man to tell?!? So diminishing... so disappointing. She can't be happy without a man (or partner)? I prefer those who are happy in their lives with or without a partner... that seems more contemporary.
These are just my opinions, I feel the series deserves better than a 1 rating, but is taking a long time to find itself... kind of like Miranda.
The Crowded Room (2023)
Binge-worthy
First, Tom Holland. Should be enough said but his acting in this is notable! I could feel Danny's pain... it was so tangible that my husband had a hard time with some of the scenes.
The story itself and how it was filmed is a little complicated, you have to think while watching, so it's not just vanilla entertainment. Once you get it, you get it. And it's fascinating. Pay attention.
Amanda Seyfried is, as always, illuminating. All of the supporting characters are. Levon Hawke especially shows great promise.
I'm only up to episode 4 and I am engaged. I'm going to hate waiting for episodes to be released. I don't understand the negative reviews. Some folks want to be spoonfed, or consider themselves highbrow cinematic experts. For me, it's thought provoking, interesting subject matter and well done on every level.
You Should Have Left (2020)
Deserves Better Reviews
I really liked this film. It's not a horror per se but a mind bender. I found it suspenseful, interesting & different from a lot of movies produced lately. Bacon, Seyfried were terrific, especially silly Bacon (and he's never looked better!). The village people were confusing and cryptic, not helpful in furthering the story but they made it creepier. Why do characters like these be so cryptic... just say something clear! A good watch. It won't keep you up at night, but it's a good ride. Not bloody, not a lot of scary jumps but suspenseful and imaginative. My next air b n b choice will not be a remote house far from a village!
Bliss (2021)
Amazing. So well done.
I can only attribute the negative reviews to an unfulfilled expectation that this was a Sci fi. I thought so too when I saw the marketing. After the first watch I was a little confused, but it stuck with me so I watched a second time. And I'm blown away. I think Owen Wilson is freaking fantastic in this. His likeable, laid back persona makes this character all the more tragic, believable, sad, but his transformation both in physicality and behavior just blew me away. I know Salma Hayak is known for her comedy but in this, she's dramatic, crazy, scary... really a testament to her acting skills.
But the set design, the continuity of scene in the two different worlds. I had to watch it twice to see the imagery, the placements, the stretch of the scenery and story. It's really brilliant, well worth your watch.