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cleio14
Reviews
After We Collided (2020)
Women, it's NOT your job to heal them.
So tired of the trope of the young woman in her sexual awakening getting involved with the cruel but traumatized bad boy. Women, it's not your job to fix them even if they can tell the difference between Austen & Brontë - they can google that crap & fake it anyway. When they tell you who they are with their actions, believe them and not this fairy tale propaganda. For once, I'd like to see the female protagonist tell their bad boy to gtfo & find a therapist and mean it, while she goes off with 1. The nice, smart, funny, hot guy (or girl) who can speak Mandarin & run a spread sheet to figure out how to make her life easier OR better yet, 2. She goes to the store, gets a couple of personal massagers, a cat, an ice cream maker, and a library card, and then plans a great trip around the world with some bad ass female friends. So OVER this nonsense. Unlike the first film, you can tell the director is male because here we go with sex scenes for the male gaze; even the sex is boring & rote. At least 50 Shades had Jamie Dornan to look at. I need to go purge my brain with some Bridget Jones or better yet, Pride, Prejudice, & Zombies, or Rogue One. Pass on this regurgitated patriarchal drivel.
Trigger Point (2022)
Compelling
Watched the entire series and found the characters and story compelling. The editing was solid and kept me moving to the next episode to find out what happened. The acting was excellent and the various manifestations of PTSD were believable. I appreciated the interweaving of politics, but my favourite aspect of the show were the range of relationships, including a moving, supportive female friendship that embraced each other's strengths & weaknesses without any toxic positivity. People complaining about stereotypes & technical flaws have an agenda, and they should go watch documentaries rather than works of fiction. I enjoyed the complex characters struggling under conditions most people would find unbearable. Looking forward to seeing the well-earned second season.
The Adam Project (2022)
Meh
The performances are solid, but this is white (male) bread, baked for white males by white males and is very pedestrian & predictable. All of these actors are capable of so much more. Jennifer Garner plays a great mum but is criminally underutilized in this film (hello anyone remember Alias???!!!). Zoe Saldana kicks tail but isn't in the film much for it to matter. It's especially disappointing because Tropper created Banshee & Carrie/Ana was such a total badass. The script is so formulaic you don't have to pay close attention to it to know what's going to happen - seriously, couldn't Garner have played the scientist??? That wouldn't have been much but it would have been something. The best thing about this film is the obvious chemistry between Garner & Ruffalo and the likeability of all of the actors. Reynolds is solid, doing his thing & the boy they cast was a perfect younger Reynolds. If you've got nothing better to do, then definitely watch Reynolds' obviously play out his Jedi fantasy or put the movie on in the background, but know you've likely seen several variations of this film already. It left me wanting to rewatch Rogue One.
Summerland (2020)
Close to perfection
Summerland comes as close to perfection as possible. Casting, location, acting, costumes, cinematography, direction, sound, writing ... the only flaw for me was that Penelope Wilton & Tom Courtenay were in The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie (another superb film) together & seeing them in a similar context pulled me out of the story. Otherwise, this is a tender, hopeful, & magical film about difficult things - perfect for a rainy lockdown day.
Away (2020)
Stellar!
A great story about the intensity of journeying into the unknown, and a fully human drama about risk, love, sacrifice, uncertainty, & hope. Binge-watched the entire season; could NOT step away. Especially enjoyed the authenticity of emotions & relationships depicted. I also enjoyed the predictable MacGyvering since technological failure is inevitable. I thought the blend of science & faith was spot on & respectfully done. This is a story for mature viewers of all ages who appreciate diverse stories about the complexities of human experiences. I seriously hope Netflix does a second season.
Perfect Plan (2010)
Potentially good story wrecked by bad musical score.
I checked this out because Rose & Bryant were so good together in Haven. The story had the potential to be a really good film but the music is so terribly mismatched to the plot. If you're feeling like you've run out of Prime, watch this but honestly, put on an episode of Haven instead. More mystery, more fun.
Judy (2019)
A beautiful tragedy ...
Judy is an outstanding film about Ms. Garland, depicting how the exploitative abusiveness of talented women & girls by powerful men in Hollywood continues to wreak havoc on their lives and this life in particular. The psychological and physical abuse of forcing a young girl & woman to take medications to manage weight and performance; telling her she is worthless unless she obeys; the lack of sleep, the constant monitoring of food & the restrictive diet all as a means of control; not even a allowed a few real moments of adolescence - only manufactured dates & birthdays to further the studio's profits, only to then be dismissed, discarded, & ridiculed for the inevitable aging & mental health issues, and when those in power can no longer profit from her in the way they want. The film is raw and painful. Renee Zellwegger is tremendous, embodying such a range of human experience, from fragility to ferocity. This film is a testament to the strength of creative, talented women who persevere the best they can with what cards they are allowed to play in a patriarchal system. I'll never again be able to watch the Wizard of Oz the same way knowing the prices the women were paying to make the film. Judy is one of the best, most powerful films I've seen in a long time.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2020)
Fabulous Phyrne!
Essie Davis slipped back into Phryne as though she had never taken her off, and Davis' chemistry with Page is undeniable. The storyline wasn't the most compelling of Phryne's mysteries, but the scenery and the sets were wonderful, & I found the ending quite satisfying. Nathan Page's performance was so very well done, and Davis makes the feminist icon her own. It was great to see most of the gang: Aunt Prudence, Dot, Hugh, Cec, & Burt, although I wished there could be more screen time with them. There were a few "In jokes", particularly at the end, that newcomers might be understandably confused by, while fans of the tv series would have found those moments enjoyable. If you're a fan of the tv show, it's a must view, but if you're new to Miss Fisher you might enjoy it more if you watch the series first (on Netflix, Acorn, or dvds from your local library) as it will help you understand Phyrne's & Jack's relational dynamics better (particularly tv episodes "Blood at the Wheel", "Game, Set, & Murder", and "Death Do Us Part"). Overall, I was not disappointed, and I hope they get to make another film. Showings were disrupted by COVID-19 so it did not get as wide a release in theatres as they was hoped. Let's hope a sequel isn't another casualty of the virus, as I would really like to see the next phase of Phryne's & Jack's relationship, back together with Dot, Mac, and company.
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
Sisters getting. It. Done.
Hilarious, stylish, and powerful, the Birds are no man's prey. Margot Robbie and the talented women making this film actually got me out to the theatre and I was not disappointed. The ladies kick some serious tail, and the Harley Fu made the fight scenes entertaining and satisfying when I usually find fighting boring. The disjointed narrative is perfectly congruent with the state of Harley's mind. They problem-solve and succeed by supporting each other as total badasses. This is a movie about women, made by women, for women & the people who love & respect women. Definitely check it out.
The Aeronauts (2019)
Visually Stunning
Jones and Redmayne are extremely talented and have wonderful chemistry (again). The design & cinematography are outstanding. There were several scenes where I had a visceral reaction to the heights depicted. I was uneasy and exhilarated, which I imagine is what it would be like, at least initially. It's a top notch film, made watchable and more interesting by the film makers' use of a composite of female pilots for Amelia's character. Pay no attention to all of the misogynistic reviews pretending to care about historical inaccuracies, since they don't seem to mind women's accomplishments being repeatedly erased from actual history not just works of art; their concerns about THIS work of fiction (it's not a documentary) amount to a pile of nonsense trying to skew IMDb's algorithms. If you are in the mood for a period piece with great style, visuals, and acting, give The Aeronauts a whirl.
Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019)
The Real Deal
An authentic take on what it's like to run off the "fat suit". True to how crappy people treat women larger than a size two & how hard it is to take in other's care when all one has known is the crap. It's also true to how much dedication it takes to train for a marathon, & how devastating it is when injury gets in the way of reaching the goal. The movie is at times funny & sweet, and brutal & painful. It's also inspiring to see how Brittany transforms her relationships (even with herself, especially with herself), her career, her spirit, and her body. The cast were great, and I'm sorry it's not a limited tv series rather than a movie as I wanted to spend more time with these characters. This is exactly the kind of movie we need more of - Less of the male gaze & more representation of diverse experiences. If you're down with that, then this is the movie for you.
Wine Country (2019)
Hilariously On Point
I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud. The cast is superb with Paula Pell being a stand out for me. Depictions of women's career development, health, and relationships in mid-life are sadly rare, so it was refreshing & fun to spend time with some talented ladies keeping it real and funny. The soundtrack was great too. I hope Amy keeps making films because this one was great.
Titans (2018)
Has potential ...
After watching season 1, Titans has many positive things working for it. It is well cast for the most part, and well acted. The "darkness" of the story line is a nice change of pace from other comic book franchises. The stunt work is well done. The major difficulty with it so far is the incoherent story line. It IS difficult to introduce so many characters in a short amount of time in a meaningful way; unfortunately, season 1 is SO all over the place storywise. It tries to do too much without deciding what the primary storyline is - is it Rachel or is it Dick? Are we in the past, the present, or the future? It's not difficult to follow, but the result is that it's more difficult to connect with the characters and care deeply about their struggles than it should be because the audience can't develop a "momentum" in building their relationship with the characters. Perhaps the writers/producers can pull the story together for season 2.
Timeless (2016)
Time Team is Well Worth Your Time
Timeless does a great job of delivering interesting "Time Team" missions of the week within the character development and overall story arcs. Does the structure sound formulaic? Sure, but part of what makes the mission of the week frame so interesting in this instance is that the episodes often, particularly in the second season, highlight the contributions of women and POC who have been overlooked and excluded such as Katherine Johnson, Alice Paul, Hedy Lamar, Robert Johnson, Mary Grace Humiston and others. Not to worry white males, there's lots in the show for you too; I particularly liked the episodes involving Ian Flemming and Harry Houdini. Among the main cast, female characters occupy leadership roles, and there's a nice balance of POC playing scientists. Science, knowledge, and expertise is respected and essential (seems silly to write this but we live in the time of "alternative facts" and when a climate change denier was confirmed to run (destroy?) the US EPA). The characters are developing nicely, and the relationships between characters are complicated, messy, and feel real which makes me care about them. "Lucy" leads with integrity, grace, compassion, and most importantly self-respect even though she experiences a number losses. "Rufus" uses humour and sarcasm to remind everyone of how horribly racism has and continues to impact African Americans. Although there is a white male soldier, "Wyatt" is the character often focused on romantic concerns (not Lucy). The villains are also complicated and three dimensional, and they make one wonder if reconciliation if not redemption is possible, at least in the Timeless 'verse(s?). The writing has wit, and the incorporation of modern pop culture is fun (Kripke's writing staff do some things similar to what happens in Supernatural and it works). Does the show have flaws? Sure it does as do all stories; however, Timeless is going about its business of being entertaining in a genre that requires a certain level of suspension of disbelief by weaving known history into imaginary stories with a scientific "what if" idea holding the frame. Sci Fi can and has pushed the boundaries of representation (thank you Roddenberry and others) and Timeless can take its place in this tradition. Timeless is well worth the time, especially if you can hang in past the first few episodes after the show has established its footing.
Madagascar (2005)
You've got to move it, move it ...
... right to your DVD rental place of choice. Two words: the penguins. If you have the type of imagination that digs commando penguins who have a plan and know how to execute it then you must see this movie.
The characters were not your typical animated fair; there was a sophisticated subtext to the primary characters. For example I greatly enjoyed that Chris Rock played a zebra who couldn't decide if he was a black zebra with white stripes or a white zebra with black stripes. The penguins are the most memorable film characters I've seen in years (which either says that movies of late have been exceptionally dull or the movie's creators scored on the break away with these characters I'm going with both). The dialogue is well crafted and works on many levels. I'm still quoting the movie and I saw it shortly after its theatrical release. I cannot say the same of Shrek (which was good) or any other recent animated film (or live action for that matter). The art work is stylish and beautiful. And the penguins. Did I mention the penguins?? If you don't see the funny in anthropomorphized animals then likely this movie is not for you, but if the thought of a zebra checking out a woman in a zebra striped top to the music of the Bee Gees tickles your funny bone, you'll enjoy this movie.
Two flippers up, way up.
P.S. Spielberg et al. if you're reading this, give the straight to DVD sequel to Skipper, Rico, Kowalski and Private. They're money!